John S. McMillin Memorial Mausoleum — Attraction in San Juan Island

Visiting from Portland Oregon. I first heard about this place from a podcast called LORE, episode 4 ‘Dinner at the Afterglow’. Once I heard him talking about it and then ran to my computer to immediately see pictures I knew instantly that I wanted to go there and check it out. I’ve lived in central Washington my whole life but have never visited the San Juan Islands. The mausoleum is a bit of a walk, about half a mile or so, from the parking spot near the Roche Harbor airport, which is nothing more than a strip of landing. If you follow the path from the sign you do walk through a cemetery but have no fear the graves have been gated off so you won’t step on them. Once you get to the spot it almost takes your breathe away. The stature and the attention to detail is stunning. Walking up the steps to get there gives you this sense of peace and as you stand under the open rotunda the air never felt so fresh. It’s almost an indescribable wonderful feeling you get when you visit the McMillin Mausoleum. Take a visit, you...

Definitely worth a visit. Beautiful surreal setting that is especially nice if you time it when no one else is there.

Finding the entrance can be tricky as GPS seems to want to route you beyond the entrance further down Afterglow Dr. This experience seemed to be common as we saw several vehicles drive by and turn around.

Parking is actually on the right next to the airport just beyond the Sculpture park at the intersection of Afterglow and Cessna. If you're looking at your GPS it can be easy to miss. The start of the trailhead is just across the road. I've included some pictures to, hopefully, make the journey less confusing for the...

A short walk from the official mausoleum parking area. This monument is located on private property. So you have to park just out side, right next to their lil airport strip. Its only 1/2 a mile from there. I'm not in great shape yet it was an easy walk. Just walk through the archway that says McMillan Mausoleum. On this path you get to see their scattered burial plots. The path takes you to a gravel road that leads to the monument. It is breath taking in its size! Just beautiful. I had the benefit of being there alone. It's such a peacful place to just...be. Respect the local residents, dont park on their lawns...