peace tower visit

Peace Tower

Ottawa Canada Visitor Information and Guide

The Peace Tower is one of Canada's most emblematic symbols.  Visitors to Ottawa can climb the historic tower and enjoy a spectacular view of the city.

If you visit Parliament Hill between September and June, you can enjoy a carillon performance from noon until 12:15 on weekdays. There is a one hour recital beginning at 11 AM during the summer months.

The Peace Tower Carillon was inaugurated on Canada Day (July 1) in 1927.  It was built to commemorate the Armistice of 1918 and Canada's 60th anniversary of Confederation.  The carillon has 53 bells.

Visitors wising to visit the Peace Tower only must obtain a ticket in advance.  The free passes are available at 90 Wellington Street in Ottawa on a first-come first-serve basis.

Tickets are not required if you visit the centre block on a guided tour.

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Peace Tower: History and design

At a height of 92.2 metres, the Peace Tower is the dominant feature on Parliament Hill, and probably the most widely recognized symbol of Canada after the flag.

The Peace Tower of Centre Block on Parliament Hill

On this page

Video: soar over the peace tower, changing of the peace tower flag, peace tower clock, peace tower carillon, books of remembrance, stained glass windows, stone carvings, related links.

Enjoy breathtaking aerial images of the Centre Block, the Peace Tower, the grounds of Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River.

Throughout the video, aerial images shot from a drone are shown, and light instrumental music is played in the background.

Medium shot of the Peace Tower, moving north-west towards the Ottawa River.

Close-up of gargoyles under the Peace Tower Clock, circling the tower to the right.

Wide shot of the Centre Block, rising towards the top of the Peace Tower.

Top view of a man raising the Flag of Canada up the Peace Tower pole.

Wide shot of the Centre Block and Parliament Hill grounds, moving north-east between two tall construction cranes.

Overhead shot of the Centre Block, rising towards the top of the Peace Tower.

Cut to black and music stops.

Canada Wordmark

An employee raises the Canadian Flag on top of the Peace Tower (Click to view enlarged image.)

The clock on Centre Block’s Peace Tower (Click to view enlarged image.)

The Peace Tower flag is changed each day from Monday to Friday and on days when it’s flown at half mast. The flag is not changed on statutory holidays or during poor weather.

• Half-masting the National Flag of Canada
• Parliament Hill flags

In 1927, the Peace Tower clock was given to Canada by the United Kingdom. The gift marked the 60th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. The original clock no longer works and has since been replaced.

There are 4 clock faces in total: 1 on each side of the Tower. The hour and minute hands of each face are run by an electric motor. Its controls are located 10 storeys down the Tower on the master clock. The precise timing of the clock is kept by the National Research Council's atomic clock in Ottawa.

Normally, the large clock on the Peace Tower chimes every 15 minutes. It’ s now silent as we restore and modernize the Centre Block.

• The Centre Block project

People are often interested to learn that the Tower's master clock cannot be set back. Therefore, at the end of Daylight Saving Time in autumn, a government employee halts the clock for a full hour overnight. In the spring, the hour hand is moved forward one hour. Its chimes are temporarily disconnected to prevent them from ringing during the process.

Canada's official time

The Peace Tower carillon is one of the oldest and finest carillons in North America. It includes 53 bells and weighs 54 tonnes. These bells range in weight from 10,090 kilograms to only 4.5 kilograms. The bourdon is the largest and heaviest bell and plays the low note E. The smallest and lightest bell plays the A, 4 1/2 octaves higher! The sound you heard each hour was made by the bourdon.

The Peace Tower carillon is being restored as part of the Centre Block project.

A carillon is played from a large keyboard—similar to an organ. The person who plays the bells is called a carillonneur. Carillonneurs play the bells by striking the keys with their fists. To play the larger bells, they must strike the keys with their feet. The bells do not actually swing. Instead, a clapper strikes each bell with the force that the carillonneur uses to strike the key.

The larger bells in the belfry. (Click to view enlarged image.)

Video: Removing the carillon bells from the Peace Tower In the spring of 2022, a number of bells from the Peace Tower carillon were removed as part of the Centre Block project. They were removed so important restoration work can be done on them.

The carillon is a complex instrument. Each pedal and lever is connected to a bell of a different size. (Click to view enlarged image.)

The Peace Tower carillon was developed from the 17th-century chiming clocks in Belgium and the Netherlands. Musicians from all over the world would come to Ottawa to study this superbly tuned instrument.

House of Commons: the carillon

Memorial Chamber

The centrepiece of the Memorial Chamber on Parliament Hill is the main altar, which holds the First World War Book of Remembrance. The altar rests on steps made of stone quarried from Flanders Fields. (Click to view enlarged image.)

The Memorial Chamber is a solemn room near the base of the Peace Tower. Built of marble, the room is dedicated to the Canadians who died in conflicts around the world.

The floor is made from stone collected from the battlefields of Europe: Ypres, Sommes, Vimy and Verdun, to name a few.

When the Centre Block was open, the Chamber contained a massive central stone altar. The altar was surrounded by 7 altars made of stone and bronze. Each altar held a different  Book of Remembrance . These books contain the names of the more than 118,000 Canadians who fought and died in the service of Canada.

The books were displayed open in glass cases. At 11 o'clock every morning, 1 page was turned in each book during a ceremony.

While the Centre Block is closed for renovations, the Books of Remembrance are on display in the Parliament Welcome Centre.

Parliament Welcome Centre

The families and friends of Canada's fallen heroes can search the Books of Remembrance or contact the House of Commons Curatorial Services to learn when their loved one's name will be shown.

• Search the Books of Remembrance
• House of Commons Curatorial Services
• History of the Memorial Chamber

To mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War, the 6 wooden altars in Parliament Hill's Memorial Chamber were replaced by ones made of stone and bronze. As well, to mark the 200th anniversary of the signing of the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812, a new Book of Remembrance and altar were added to the Memorial Chamber.

Watch this video from 2015 to see the altars and to hear the story of this sacred place.

(Text on screen: To mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War, six wooden altars within Parliament Hill's Memorial Chamber were replaced by ones made of stone.

To mark the 200th anniversary of the ratification of the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812, a Book of Remembrance and altar were added to the Memorial Chamber.)

(Orchestral music in background.)

(Text on screen: The altars will continue to fully honour those who died in service.)

(View of entrance to the Memorial Chamber and the back of a constable standing in front of the central-altar, the Altar of Remembrance.)

(Ringing carillon bell.)

(Close-up of the display case containing the Korean War Book of Remembrance (1950-1953). Close-up of the display case containing the Seventh Book of Remembrance (In the Service of Canada). Close-up of the case containing the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance. Close-up of the case containing Second World War Book of Remembrance (1939-1945). Close-up of the Newfoundland Book of Remembrance (1867-1949). Close-up of the South Africa—Nile Expedition Book of Remembrance (1884-1902).)

(The constable stands at the central altar. The book case is open and he turns a page. The constable runs his hand across names on the page. Head shot of the constable. He raises his face. Close-up of the officer's eyes.)

(Fade to black, piano instrumental in the background as the title The Memorial Chamber appears on screen.)

(Chest shot of a woman seated speaking to someone off camera, the text Johanna Mizgala, Curator of the House of Commons appears on screen.)

Curator of the House of Commons: The Memorial Chamber is a special space within Parliament and if the Peace Tower is the, sort of, spine of the building, then the Memorial Chamber really is its heart.

(View of the entrance of the Memorial Chamber with a focus on the central altar.)

(Pan shot of the chamber's ornate ceiling and a stained glass window.)

(Close-up of the bronze sculptor of a kneeling angel that adorns the case of the First World War Book of Remembrance.)

(Chest shot of a man seated in a workshop speaking to someone off camera. the text Phil White, Dominion Sculptor appears on screen.)

Dominion Sculptor: Well the altar, at least the central altar in the Memorial Chamber was created by the architect, John Pearson, to memorialize Canada's, essentially Canada's war dead from the First World War—all the people who had given their lives for king and country at the time. And, it's taken on an incredible significance because it has come to be, essentially, a focal point to memorialize not only Canada's war dead from the First World War, but also the Second War, the Korean War and other conflicts that have occurred over the last century. It's very important that these altars be replaced because, to me, it is a matter of respect, showing the utmost respect for the sacrifices that the people have made.

(Upward pan shot of the Memorial Chamber featuring the central altar then moving onto the sunlit stained glass window.)

(Upward close-up pan of page 496 of First World War Book of Remembrance.)

(Lateral pan of the side of the case of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance.)

(Close-up pan of pages South Africa—Nile Expedition and the Second World War Books of Remembrance.)

(Chest shot of a man seated in a workshop speaking to someone off camera.)

Dominion Sculptor: So we decided the first thing to do was to hire an architectural historian to write a paper about the Chamber and include as much research as possible about Pearson, the architect's, intentions.

(Side view of a woman in a library taking a book from the shelf and opening it.)

(Side view of a woman in a library seated at a table, reading a book and taking notes.)

(Chest shot of a woman seated speaking to someone off camera.)

Curator of the House of Commons: Canadian soldiers from the Great War, as they called it at the time, were buried where they fell. So their bodies are in Belgium and in France. They are not here on Canadian soil. This was something that was very important—that there be a record of these individuals.

(Close-ups of various framed First World War photo.)

(Close-up of architectural drawings of the Memorial Chamber.)

Curator of the House of Commons: So early on, John Pearson, the architect. His vision was that all of the names of the soldiers, and service men and women and chaplains be enshrined in that space. But as they started to get the casualty list and they started to see the extent of the losses from the Great War, it became apparent that there was no space for all of those names on the walls. So they had to think of a different strategy, and that is why we have the Books of Remembrance.

(Image of the interior wall of the Memorial Chamber.)

(Right pan close-up of a Book of Remembrance.)

(Head shot of a man seated in a workshop speaking to someone off camera.)

Dominion Sculptor: The architect intended that the space would represent a sacred grove—grove implying that the central altar is surrounded by trees, by columns of stone, by elements of the design of the room that represent trees all surrounding and protecting the central altar.

(Pan shot of the Chamber's ornate ceiling.)

(Close-up of a stone carving of an owl.)

(Close-up of a small stone carving with four intertwined shamrocks.)

(Close-up of a small stone carving of the head of a mourning angel.)

Dominion Sculptor: So the intention of the new altars is to complement the idea of the sacred grove and introduce the element of poppies surrounding—forming part of the altars—and also surrounding the central altar. So, I came up with about a dozen different sketches—just quick thumbnail sketches—on pieces of paper and presented them to the committee.

(Foreground shot of the bronze poppy design along the legs of an altar.)

(Back view of a man at a drafting table who is working on a design.)

(Face shot of a man and showing his hand drawing.)

(Close-up a hand that is creating an altar design.)

(Side close-up of a man who is concentrating at a drafting table.)

Dominion Sculptor: They involved the traditional block, pieces that were more sculptural that included big 3-D figures, pieces that included large relief carvings and pieces that were more like a table, which is a traditional way that books are shown in a library. The table idea actually worked out very well because the solid blocks actually block off a large section of the floor in the room, and the floor in the room has a fairly elaborate design in the floor that is made up of stones from various battlefield sources in Europe and they form a cross in the floor. We really did not want to cover up this cross.

(Close-up pan of three thumbnail sketches on paper.)

(Downward arch shot of the floor of the Chamber showing the patterned design.)

(Close-up of a floor brass plate carving with the inscription "Vimy Ridge Hill∇70 / Crête de Vimy côte 70".)

(Close-up of a floor brass plate carving with the inscription "Passchendaele".)

(Close-up arch shot of the original architectural drawings of the Memorial Chamber floor. The cross design is pulled out and raised to portray its design.)

Dominion Sculptor: The current altars actually do cover up the points of the cross, but the intention is to show the cross on the floor once again.

(Upward pan of an archival image of the Memorial Chamber.)

(Left pan close-up of the central altar showing a kneeling angel at each corner.)

Curator of the House of Commons: When the Memorial Chamber was constructed initially, it only had space for the one altar. So it was designed around the altar for the First World War memorial and that altar is… The stone for the altar was a gift from Great Britain.

(Close-up of the stone carving of the Canadian Coat of Arms.)

(Right pan of the stone top of an altar with tools lying on the top of the altar.)

Curator of the House of Commons: It is Hoptonwood and the Dominion Sculptor, in crafting the new altars for the other Books of Remembrance, sought to echo the design of that original altar so that the space would be a really cohesive tribute to all the Canadian fallen.

(Close-up shot of the bronze poppy design along the leg of a new altar.)

(Downward pan of the leg of a new altar.)

Dominion Sculptor: Bronze was chosen for the legs for a number of reasons. Bronze is a traditional material of memorials. There was a great memorials program that was undertaken after the First World War. Bronze sculptures were done all around the country, all across the Commonwealth really. There are a number of different artisans that have been employed. There are people who are doing stone carving, shaping of stone, letter carving and there are also people who are working in a foundry doing foundry work and people who are doing the final assembly, welding and patination of the bronze. There's also a company that has been hired to do the cases themselves, which will contain the books.

(Full shot of a stone carver working in his workshop with a fire burning in the fireplace.)

(Close-up of a stone carver carving one of the inscriptions in the altars.)

(Close-up of a stone carver's hands working on the lettering of an altar.)

(Close-up of the stone carver doing letter carving on a stone altar top.)

(Side view of a welder welding the ornate bronze frame of an altar.)

(Close-up of a welder with a welding tool welding the bronze frame of an altar.)

(Side view of a craftsperson preparing the ornate bronze frame of an altar for the final finish.)

(Close-up top view of one of the new display case which will contain the books.)

(Lateral pan of a new display case with the image of a Book of Remembrance.)

Dominion Sculptor: It feels really good to be the creator of these altars and to have had even a small contribution to the heritage of this country—the heritage of commemorating our veterans and the commemoration of our war dead.

(Upward pan of the Memorial Chamber with the new altars.)

(Right pan of the Memorial Chamber with the central altars in the foreground and the new alters in the background.)

Dominion Sculptor: It really is an honour to have been able to have been involved in this.

Curator of the House of Commons: Every name of everyone who has fallen in service to this country is there.

(Front view of the new Korean War altars.)

(Front view of the new Seventh Book of Remembrance (In the Service of Canada) altar.)

(Front view of the new Merchant Navy altar.)

(Front view of the new Second World War altar.)

(Front view of the new War of 1812 altar.)

(Front view of the new Newfoundland altar.)

(Front view of the new South Africa—Nile altar.)

Curator of the House of Commons: And that has a very profound impact when you walk the halls of this space and you get an opportunity to go in there and be quiet. It touches you in a way you that can't always describe.

(Reverse dolly shot of the exiting the Memorial Chamber with the new altars. The gate to the Chamber closes.)

(Fade to black. The following appears on the blank screen: "A collaboration between".)

(Public Works and Government Services Canada Corporate signature)

(The emblem of the House of Commons of Canada)

(Text on screen: Video produced and created by Creative Services and Multimedia and Creative Services group at Public Works and Government Services Canada.)

(Canada Wordmark)

The Memorial Chamber's stained glass windows show the journey of soldiers from the call of battle to the return home.

The stained glass is being restored as part of the Centre Block project.

Video: Removing Centre Block’s Memorial Chamber stained glass windows See conservation specialists perform important restoration work. Work includes cleaning, fixing broken pieces of glass, replacing the edge leads and re-cementing the windows.

Video: Restoring Centre Block’s Memorial Chamber stained glass windows See conservation specialists perform important restoration work. Work includes cleaning, fixing broken pieces of glass, replacing the edge leads and re-cementing the windows.

The Peace Tower features whimsical, decorative, as well as sombre stone carvings (Click to view enlarged image.)

Stone carvings of human and animal figures and ancient creatures stare down from the outer walls of the Peace Tower. Although commonly called gargoyles, these stonework figures are properly referred to by various other names depending on the style in which they are carved.

The types of stone carvings on the Peace Tower are as follows:

• A grotesque is a fanciful human or animal figure that symbolizes the desire to fight the power of evil. Grotesques are characterized by their distorted, absurd or ugly features.
• A relief is any raised sculpture that is carved into a flat panel of material. The Peace Tower contains a number of sandstone panels—called friezes—into which these types of figures are engraved.
• A boss is an ornamental block carving. Bosses made from Wallace and Birmingham Buff sandstones can be found at the ends of mouldings and arches on the Peace Tower.
• A gargoyle is a decorative waterspout or eavestrough that is carved in the form of a human or animal figure. The purpose of gargoyles is to direct rain water away from the building and to ward off evil. There are 4 such non-functional sculptures, each approximately 2.5 metres long, on the Peace Tower.
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Getting Here

• Guided tours of Parliament are offered at separate locations starting in February 2019, and during Centre Block's closure:
• Senate Tours are offered at the Senate of Canada Building (2 Rideau Street) . The building is located one block away from Parliament Hill, between the Château Laurier and the National Arts Centre.
• House of Commons Tours are offered at West Block (111 Wellington Street) on Parliament Hill. The public entrance is located at the new Visitor Welcome Centre, between the Centre Block and West Block buildings.
• East Block Tours are offered from July to early September at East Block (111 Wellington) on Parliament Hill. The public entrance is at East Block, located to the right of the Peace Tower.
• Public transportation: Parliament is served by several bus routes. Please consult OC Transpo for routes in Ottawa or the Société de transport de l'Outaouais for routes from Gatineau.
• Parking: There is no parking available on Parliament Hill or at the Senate of Canada Building, but several private and city parking lots are located nearby.
• Tour buses: There are drop-off areas along Wellington street and Queen street, and parking is available in designated areas throughout the city of Ottawa .

Hours and Admission

• Opening hours vary depending on the location, day and time of your visit. Consult the calendar for Senate guided tours and House of Commons guided tours for availability.
• Guided tours are not available when the Senate or House of Commons are sitting, and on December 25 th , January 1 st and July 1 st .
• Due to parliamentary activity, access to the buildings cannot be guaranteed and tour schedules are subject to change without notice.
• Visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance. A limited number of same day tickets may be available at each site on a first-come first-served basis.

Security & Bag Restrictions

• All visitors are required to go through security scanning when entering the buildings. Line-ups are to be expected. Please arrive 20 minutes before the time shown on your ticket.
• Only one (1) bag smaller than 35.5 cm x 30.5 cm x 19 cm (14” x 12” x 7.5”) is permitted per visitor. Visitors carrying any item that exceeds these dimensions will be denied entry. There will be no bag check available. Loose items from the cargo areas of strollers or wheelchairs are not permitted.
• Participating in any form of demonstration inside the buildings is prohibited.
• Alternate security arrangements can be made upon arrival at tour locations for pregnant women, visitors with pacemakers and other medical needs.

Accessibility

• All facilities are wheelchair-accessible.
• Arrangements can be made in advance to transport visitors to the West Block entrance. Please contact Tenant Operations at 613-943-4300 or [email protected] to provide your vehicle information at least 24 hours before your visit.
• To request American Sign Language (ASL) or Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) interpretation, please call 613-996-0896 at least two business days before your visit.
• Please call the Tours Reservation Office at 613-996-0896 if you require further accommodations or assistance.

Peace Tower Parliament Hill Ottawa Canada

By: Author Susan Moore

Posted on Last updated: October 29, 2022

Home » Travel » North America » Canada » Peace Tower Parliament Hill Ottawa Canada

On my third attempt I enjoyed a visit to the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill during my solo trip to Ottawa Canada . My first attempt failed due to a scheduled protest on Parliament Hill in the afternoon.

My second attempt I arrived too near closing time but I did receive some useful information from the staff, who told me to arrive 10 minutes or so before opening time at 9:00 am in order to have the best chance of being first in line.

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Peace Tower – Centre Block at Parliament Hill Ottawa

A tour of the Parliament Buildings does require a ticket, which is free for the asking on a first-come first-served basis. Tickets are distributed from the tourist information center at 90 Wellington West – directly across the street from Parliament Hill.

For more information check the Visitor Information section of the Parliament of Canada website.

Peace Tower view of Gatineau Quebec and Library of Parliament (right) – Ottawa Canada

The Gothic style Peace Tower, dedicated on July 1, 1927, replacing the Victoria Tower, completed in 1878 but destroyed in a fire in February 1916.

The fire destroyed Center Block of the Parliament Buildings except for the Library of Parliament. Heavy iron safety doors closed by a staff member saved the Library.

Peace Tower Ottawa Parliament Hill – Memorial Chamber

Stained glass at Memorial Chamber – Peace Tower Parliament Hill

What is the purpose of the Peace Tower?

The Peace Tower was created as a memorial to the men and women who died serving their country.

There are seven books of remembrance listing the names of every Canadian who died during military service to their country.

For more details of the Memorial Chamber visit the Veterans Affairs Canada website.

Peace Tower Carillon and Bells

The bells of Peace Tower Carillon were cast at the Gillett and Johnston foundry in Croydon England. The Carillon consists of 53 bronze bells weighing in at 66 tonnes in total.

The bells cover 4 1/2 octaves and during July and August the carillon plays from 11 am to noon on weekdays.

From September to June the Peace Tower Carillon plays from noon to 12:15 pm on weekdays.

More information and photos of the Peace Tower Carillon are available at the Parliament of Canada website.

Peace Tower arched entrance – lion carving completed 1937 – 1938

Peace Tower Parliament Hill Ottawa – unicorn on the east side of arched entrance

I arrived at 8:45 on a Saturday and first in line to visit the Peace Tower. It was  beautiful summer day in Ottawa. I chatted with the staff and other people in line while waiting for the 9:00 am opening time.

There is a security check point at the entrance and afterwards an elevator to the observation deck which is located just below the clock face of the Peace Tower.

Clock of the Peace Tower

The clock was modeled after the clock tower known as Big Ben at the British Parliament in London England.

Ottawa Parliament Hill Peace Tower ‘You are here’

The chime for the clock plays on 5 out of the 53 bells of the carillon. The largest bell, known as the bourbon, strikes the hour.

Peace Tower Parliament Hill Ottawa – observation deck below the clock face

I enjoyed wonderful views from the Peace Tower observation deck. I could even see the giant spider sculpture Maman in front of the National Gallery of Canada.

View of Ottawa River from the observation deck of Peace Tower Parliament Hill

In 2014 I also enjoyed a bird’s-eye view of the construction site for the restoration of West Block Parliament Building. Although the scheduled completion date was in 2017 the actual occupancy date was in 2018.

Peace Tower Parliament Hill view West Block construction in 2014

The observation deck of the Peace Tower is off-limits during the Changing of the Guard ceremony on Parliament Hill so I took the elevator back down around 9:45 in order to view the Memorial Chamber.

Afterwards I attended the Changing of the Guard ceremony for the second time. Standing on the steps of the Peace Tower offered a better view than trying to see through the crowd of people. For the best view arrive early – the ceremony begins at 10:00 am during late June through late August.

Mother Beaver sculpture at Peace Tower Parliament Hill

Changing of the Guard Ottawa Parliament Hill

I visited the Peace Tower and Memorial Chamber at 9:00 am, followed by the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Parliament Hill at 10:00 am.

By 11 am I was wandering around ByWard Market then enjoying some brunch before visiting the National Gallery of Canada to view the contemporary art collection .

Peace Tower visitor info Parliament Hill Ottawa Address 111 Wellington St Phone Number +1-(613)-992-4793 Hours CLOSED for renovations (Normal hours: Open daily: 9 am – 4:30 pm) Admission Cost Free; first-come, first-served basis. Tickets available at 90 Wellington St, across from Parliament Hill Tours Guided tours and self-guided options. More info available on tours of Parliament here . How to Get There Bus #1 or #7

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Imagine Peace Tower

The Imagine Peace Tower is a work of art conceived as a beacon to world peace by the legendary artist, musician, and peace advocate, Yoko Ono. The work is designed in the form of a wishing well from which a powerful tower of light beams. The words IMAGINE PEACE are inscribed on the well in 24 different languages.

The light tower is composed of a number of individual lights that join together to form a single beam. Six of the lights travel through corridors across a platform that surrounds the well and are reflected upwards to the sky with mirrors. An additional nine lights shine straight up to the sky, strengthening the tower of light. The strength, intensity, and brilliance of the light tower continually change as particles in the air fluctuate with the changing weather and atmospheric conditions unique to Iceland.

The inauguration of the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER took place during a private ceremony on 9 October 2007 on Viðey Island, Reykjavík, Iceland. The artwork was dedicated to the memory of John Lennon on what would have been his 67th birthday. Since then it has lit up the evening sky annually from 9th of October to 8th of December. It is also lit during the winter solstice for one week, on New Year's Eve, and on Spring Equinox for one week.

The electricity for the light comes entirely from Reykjavik Energy, which produces electricity from geothermal power. The construction and installation of the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER were done in collaboration between Yoko Ono, the City of Reykjavik, Reykjavik Art Museum, and Reykjavik Energy.

Iceland has been ranked as the most peaceful country in the world seven years in a row, according to the annual  Global Peace Index  compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace.

LIGHTING TIMES

The tower is illuminated 1 hr. after sunset until midnight from 9 October until 8 December (John Lennon's birthday and day of death). From Winter Solstice the beam can be seen lighting up the night sky into the morning of a New Year, as well as on Yoko Ono's birthday and in the week of Spring Equinox. The ever-changing weather conditions on the island impact the strength, intensity and brilliance of the tower. 

IMAGINE PEACE TOWER is lit annually • 9th October – 8th December • 21st – 31st December • 18th February • The week of Spring Equinox

It is lit from around 1 hour after sunset until midnight each night except on John & Yoko’s birthdays and on New Year’s Eve when it remains lit until sunrise. On 9th October it lights up at 8 pm and from 20th – 27th March it lights up at 9 pm.

Relative times: • 8 pm Reykjavík • 9 pm London/Liverpool • 4 pm New York • 1 pm Los Angeles • 5 am Tokyo • Other times  here .

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