One of Kansas City’s most iconic landmarks—the KCTV5 Tower—will shine once again in the city’s skyline as part of the expanding Illuminate KC initiative. Decorative lighting installation is underway, with testing scheduled to begin later this month and an official relighting ceremony set for September 18.
Starting as the KCMO-TV Transmission Tower, the KCTV5 Tower stands at 1,042 feet above Midtown Kansas City. It was built in 1955 to broadcast to a growing television audience. At the time of its completion, it was among the tallest broadcast towers in the nation (at the time of its completion in 1956, the KCTV5 tower was 18 feet taller than the original height of the Eiffel Tower. However, the Eiffel Tower has since been modified with antennas) and quickly became a defining feature of Kansas City’s skyline. With its signature red lights blinking against the night sky, the tower became both a practical transmitter of news and entertainment and a symbol of the city.
The tower went dark in 2004 due to aging infrastructure and high maintenance costs, leaving Kansas City without one of its most recognizable nighttime landmarks for over 20 years. Now, thanks to modern energy-efficient LED technology and smart lighting controls from Mercer Zimmerman, the tower will once again shine as a symbol of resilience and innovation, day and night.
“Like many Kansas Citians, I remember fondly seeing the KCTV5 Tower shining bright as part of Kansas City’s skyline and identity, beaming memorable events into our homes and standing tall as a landmark, visible over the years to millions across our region,” said Mayor Lucas. “Thanks to the continued success of our Illuminate KC initiative, I look forward to seeing the Tower shine again as an iconic and unifying symbol of our City.”
Curtis Miles, General Manager at KCTV5, echoed the sentiment: “As Kansas City prepares to welcome the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we couldn’t imagine a better time to bring back this powerful symbol of our city’s pride and resilience. We’re proud to work hand-in-hand with city leaders to return the tower to its rightful place in our illuminated skyline.”
The Illuminate KC initiative has already transformed the city’s nighttime landscape by lighting beloved landmarks including the 18th and Vine Jazz District, Bartle Hall, and Waldo Tower. Restoring the KCTV5 Tower is its most ambitious project yet, coinciding with the city’s preparations to welcome the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“The relighting of the KCTV5 Tower is more than a symbolic gesture—it’s a reminder of the stories and history that connect us,” said Kliff Kuehl, President and CEO of Kansas City PBS. “For decades, this beacon was a fixture in our community, broadcasting important news and entertainment into homes across the region. It’s great to see it shine again, and we are grateful to Mayor Lucas and KCTV5 for making this happen.”
The collaboration involved extensive planning with Burns & McDonnell Engineering, Inc., Precision Communications, LLC, KCTV5, and Kansas City PBS to develop a comprehensive lighting system that maximizes visual impact while minimizing environmental footprint.
The Illuminate KC initiative continues to review additional opportunities throughout Kansas City to highlight our City’s unique landmarks and iconic architectural heritage through strategic illumination projects with current consideration of the Kit Bond Bridge and the historic Western Auto sign.
