Lighthouse of a Five-Year Old

My granddaughter, Maddie, has always loved drawing and sketching, often filling her sketchbook with imaginative scenes and whimsical creations. One morning, I noticed her intently sketching what appeared to be a tall, slender structure painted in bright, cheerful colours and topped with a curious, mushroom-shaped cubicle. Intrigued, I leaned closer and asked, “What’s that, Maddie?” Without pausing or looking up, she replied with quiet confidence, “It’s a lighthouse!”

Her answer made me smile. Even from that brief exchange, I could sense the vivid imagination and creativity behind her design - a lighthouse unlike any I had ever seen, yet unmistakably her own.

Her drawing reminded me of the last lighthouse I had seen in person - on Rottnest Island in Western Australia. That one was a classic: a tall, cylindrical white tower tapering gracefully toward the top, crowned with a spinning light or beacon that once guided ships safely along the coast (Read here).

As I admired Maddie’s imaginative creation, my mind drifted even further - to St. Petersburg on 18 September 2025, when I stood by the Neva River, gazing at two majestic red columns rising against the skyline. Spaced about 150 m apart, each column stands 32 m high and is adorned with six ship prows, or rostra, symbolizing Russia’s historic naval triumphs. These were the famed Rostral Columns, striking in their vivid red hue and graceful classical design - so different from the traditional lighthouse form I was familiar with. 

Together with the Old Stock Exchange Building that stands between them, they form a magnificent architectural ensemble that defines the Strelka, or “spit,” of Vasilievsky Island - one of the most picturesque spots in the city.

In the 19th century, oil lamps fueled by natural gas were lit at the tops of the columns, serving as true beacons for ships navigating the Neva River. Though they no longer function as practical lighthouses today, their flames are still ceremonially rekindled on special occasions such as Navy Day and Victory Day. When illuminated at night, the Rostral Columns transform into living symbols of St. Petersburg’s maritime heritage.