Imagine Peace Tower - John Lennon Tribute

The Imagine Peace Tower (Friðarsúlan) on Viðey Island, just off Reykjavík’s coast, is a breathtaking light-based memorial conceived by Yoko Ono in tribute to her husband John Lennon’s lifelong message of peace icelandtravel.is+11en.wikipedia.org+11guidetoiceland.is+11. First lit on October 9, 2007—what would have been John’s 67th birthday—the installation beams a luminous column of light into the sky from a stone "wishing well" etched with IMAGINE PEACE in 24 languages it.wikipedia.org+13en.wikipedia.org+13imaginepeacetower.com+13.

🔍 Design & Technology

• The tower features 15 powerful searchlights: six angled through mirrored corridors and nine pointing directly upward, collectively creating a single radiant beam that often pierces cloud cover and reaches heights over 4 km publicdelivery.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2guidetoiceland.is+2.

• Its base is a 10 m-wide circular “wishing well” on a platform of native Icelandic stone (hyalite, dolerite, basalt), 17 m across—symbolizing collective hopes for peace icelandreview.com+13imaginepeacetower.com+13guidetoiceland.is+13.

• The tower is powered entirely by geothermal energy, aligning with Iceland’s commitment to sustainability and quiet symbolism reddit.com+10en.wikipedia.org+10guidetoiceland.is+10.

📅 Lighting Schedule

The tower’s illumination carries strong symbolic timing:

Period	Occasion
Oct 9–Dec 8	John Lennon’s birth to death dates
Winter Solstice–New Year’s Day	Seasonal reflection
Spring Equinox week & Feb 18	Yoko Ono’s birthday & their marriage anniversary
Special occasions (solidarity, holidays)	e.g., Ukraine support whalesafari.is+10en.wikipedia.org+10imaginepeacetower.com+10

Typically, it shines from one hour after sunset until midnight—except during some dates (birthdays, New Year’s Eve) when it remains lit through the night .

🌍 Symbolism & Public Engagement

• The tower houses over a million buried wishes, collected via Ono’s worldwide Wish Tree installations, creating a shared wellspring of aspiration for global peace publicdelivery.org+12en.wikipedia.org+12guidetoiceland.is+12.

• It was built in collaboration with Reykjavík City, Reykjavík Art Museum, and Reykjavík Energy—an embodiment of communal, global cooperation forbes.com+6imaginepeacetower.com+6reddit.com+6.

• For many, the event is deeply moving: public ferry rides, music, and community ceremonies accompany annual lighting—often with “Imagine” played live as the beam ascends imaginepeacetower.com+1imaginepeacetower.com+1.

✨ Experiencing the Tower

• Location: On peaceful Viðey Island—reachable by regular ferry from Reykjavík (free with City Card)—offering unobstructed views and serene surroundings en.wikipedia.org+4rove.me+4guidetoiceland.is+4.

• Weather interactions: Iceland’s elements enhance the experience—from crisp, clear shafts on calm nights to rainbow prisms amid mist or cloud .

• Symbolic resonance: For residents and visitors alike, it’s both a visual marvel and a poignant reminder of unity, reflection, and hope icelandmonitor.mbl.is+10reddit.com+10reykjavik.is+10.

Why it resonates:The Imagine Peace Tower isn’t just an artwork—it’s an ongoing symbol of peace and solidarity, harmonizing art, activism, and environmental consciousness. Its annual lighting transforms the Reykjavík skies and hearts worldwide, echoing Lennon & Ono’s belief in the power of collective dreaming for a more peaceful world.

Would you like to know the best spots in Reykjavík to view it from the mainland, or travel tips for visiting Viðey during lighting?