02/13/2024
Spent the last weekend on San Juan Island. We went out exploring and found this beautiful piece of architecture. This is . This is actually a mausoleum for the McMillin family. 📸✨ Formerly known as the McMillin Memorial Mausoleum! 🏛️✨ This enchanting structure, reminiscent of something straight out of a fantasy novel, serves as the eternal resting place for a prominent mineral magnate’s family.
John S. McMillin, a successful lime works owner and a devoted Methodist and Mason, designed this epic mausoleum to beautifully merge his passions. As you enter through the stone arch, you’ll be greeted by the name “Afterglow Vista,” a fitting tribute to this sacred burial site.
Contrary to traditional mausoleums, this captivating open-air rotunda features a grand limestone table at its center. Surrounding the table, you’ll find sturdy stone chairs that not only represent the McMillin family members but also contain their ashes, acting as unique headstones. This symbolic arrangement mirrors the cherished family dinner table where the McMillins would gather. Interestingly, an empty space at the table signifies the McMillin son who diverged from Methodism.
Encircling the table are six majestic Roman columns, each with its own significance. Additionally, a broken column stands as a powerful symbol of the unfinished nature of human life. Originally, these columns were intended to support a brass dome over the table, but the family ultimately decided to embrace the elements and leave the site exposed.
Even the steps leading up to this extraordinary monument are numbered with Masonic symbolism, representing the various stages of life. It’s truly a profound testament to the intricate relationship between death and family.
While Afterglow Vista warmly welcomes the public, please note that obtaining a permit may be necessary if you’re planning to capture a swords and sorcery e-pic amidst its magical ambiance. ✨📸🗡️
