After over 20 years, Kansas City’s iconic KCTV Tower once again illuminates the skyline.
The KCTV Tower has been a defining feature since 1955, when it was debuted as the third-tallest freestanding structure in the world, after New York’s Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building — and 18 feet taller than the original Eiffel Tower.
“Like red rubies …,” The Star wrote in May 1956, “these 1,360 25-watt bulbs glow against the night for miles and miles around.”
But the tower went dark in 2004, due to aging infrastructure and high maintenance costs. According to a city news release, the tower was restored using modern LED technology and smart lighting controls.
The KCTV Tower shined in the night after it was lit with new LED lights on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas, center, and KCTV anchors Lauren Magarino and Brad Stephens counted down for Lucas to push the button to turn the lights on. The original lights on the 1,042-feet-tall tower were shut down in 2004 due to aging infrastructure and maintenance costs. Chris Ochsner cochsner@kcstar.com
This week, crews spent Tuesday through Thursday testing the bulbs in preparation for Thursday’s relighting. The relighting ceremony was held at 9 p.m. Thursday night at 125 E 31st Street.
The KCTV Tower shined in the night after it was lit with new LED lights on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas, left, and KCTV anchors Lauren Magarino and Brad Stephens talked about the tower after Lucas pushed the button to turn the lights on. The original lights on the 1,042-feet-tall tower were shut down in 2004 due to aging infrastructure and maintenance costs. Chris Ochsner cochsner@kcstar.com
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
Previous reporting from the Star’s Vahe Gregorian and Eleanor Nash was used in this article.
The KCTV Tower shined in the night after it was lit with new LED lights on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The original lights on the 1,042-feet-tall tower were shut down in 2004 due to aging infrastructure and maintenance costs. Chris Ochsner cochsner@kcstar.com
The KCTV Tower shined in the night after it was lit with new LED lights on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The original lights on the 1,042-feet-tall tower were shut down in 2004 due to aging infrastructure and maintenance costs. Chris Ochsner cochsner@kcstar.com
The KCTV Tower shined in the night after it was lit with new LED lights on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The original lights on the 1,042-feet-tall tower were shut down in 2004 due to aging infrastructure and maintenance costs. Chris Ochsner cochsner@kcstar.com
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 2:22 PM.
Noelle Alviz-Gransee is a breaking news reporter for the Kansas City Star. She studied journalism and political science at MU and has previously written for the Des Moines Register, the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, The Missourian, Startland News and the Missouri Business Alert.
