Iconic Kansas City tower’s lights are flashing again. Are they on for good?
Kansas Citians got a preview of a new light of the skyline this week.
Crews are testing new lights on the KCTV Tower in midtown from Tuesday through Thursday, said Megan Strickland, spokesperson for Mayor Quinton Lucas’ office.
The 1,042-foot-tall tower stands off of 31st Street between Main and Gillham at the Kansas City PBS station.
During testing, the tower was illuminated in multiple colors, including royal blue and red to match both the Chiefs and the structure’s daytime look.
The official lighting ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 18. Strickland said details about the event will be shared soon.
The KCTV Tower was built in the mid-1950s and can be seen from miles away. The original red light bulbs were decommissioned in the mid-2000s, because of high maintenance costs and aging infrastructure.
In August, Kansas City Council signed off on a $1.1 million contract using capital improvement funds for the lighting project, according to city documents. Through the Illuminate KC initiative, the city has pushed to re-light landmarks, which could include the Western Auto sign and the Kit Bond Bridge.
The Star’s Chris Higgins contributed to this report.
This story was originally published September 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM.
