The Old Red Bridge: Kansas City's Love Lock Landmark
In the heart of south Kansas City, a decommissioned bridge in Minor Park has become one of America's most beloved love lock destinations — and one of the rare places where the love lock tradition was embraced and encouraged by the city itself.
A Bridge Reborn
The Old Red Bridge has a history that stretches back to 1859, when Colonel George N. Todd, a 50-year-old Scottish stonemason, built the first red bridge at this crossing. The bridge was replaced over the decades — the current structure was dedicated by Harry Truman in 1932 during the Great Depression.
When a new bridge was built for vehicle traffic in 2013, the city faced a choice: demolish the old one or find a new purpose for it. Kansas City chose to keep the Old Red Bridge and transform it into a pedestrian walkway — and that's when the love lock tradition found its home.
How It Started
Heidi Markle, who handles marketing and events for Kansas City's Department of Parks and Recreation, placed the first locks on the bridge. Inspired by the Pont des Arts in Paris, she attached two locks: one pledging her bond with her then-fiance, and another with her puggle dog, Harley.
What makes this story remarkable is that the love lock tradition at the Old Red Bridge wasn't a spontaneous grassroots movement — it was initiated by the city's own parks department. Kansas City actively sought a meaningful second life for the decommissioned bridge, and the love lock tradition was the answer. Heidi noted that the bridge was originally built for heavy traffic, so it has more than enough structural capacity for thousands of locks.
A Community Tradition
Since its reopening in February 2013, more than 6,000 locks have been placed on the Old Red Bridge. Each one represents a couple's story — names, dates, messages of devotion etched or engraved on padlocks and fastened to the bridge's railings.
The tradition has become woven into Kansas City's romantic culture. The bridge is a popular destination for proposals, anniversary celebrations, and Valentine's Day visits. Around Valentine's Day, the parks department adds twinkly lights to the bridge, enhancing the romance of the setting.
Weddings at the Old Red Bridge
The Old Red Bridge has also become a sought-after wedding venue. Couples exchange vows on the bridge, surrounded by thousands of other couples' declarations of love. After the ceremony, the newlyweds lock their own padlock to the railing — adding their story to the growing collection. It's a ceremony backdrop unlike any other: a bridge built in 1932, dedicated by a future president, and now covered in the permanent promises of thousands of couples.
Why Kansas City's Approach Matters
Kansas City's decision to actively embrace the love lock tradition — rather than waiting for it to happen organically — represents a model for how cities can celebrate romance as part of their cultural identity. The Old Red Bridge is listed on the official Kansas City Parks & Recreation website and promoted by Visit KC, the city's tourism board, as an attraction under Arts and Culture.
The message is clear: love locks aren't just tolerated here — they're celebrated.
Visit the Old Red Bridge
The Old Red Bridge is located at Red Bridge Road between Holmes and Blue River Road in south Kansas City, adjacent to Minor Park. It's free and open to the public.
Planning a visit? Design your custom engraved lock before you go. Our online designer lets you create a lock with your names, your date, and artwork that captures your story — a lock worthy of standing alongside thousands of others on one of America's most romantic bridges.
See where the Old Red Bridge fits on our Love Lock Map — an interactive map of love lock locations around the world, built from our community of customers.