Red Mailboxes Full of Love Letters Are Popping Up in Alameda

Editor’s Note: 
As of Sunday, Feb 11th 2024, the mailboxes are back in Alameda!
After a short hiatus, the artist behind the adorable Love Letter mailboxes on Alameda let us know that the mailboxes are back this year and are in 5 locations. You can find them on Santa Clara Ave at 5th Street, On Pacific Ave at Morton Street, Versailes between Yosemite Ave and Buena Vista, Park Ave between Encinal and San Jose (on the east side) and then finally on the Morton Street pat San Antonio Ave next to Franklin Park. We love this Valentine’s Day tradition. To learn more about this pop-up art project, read our original story below and our follow up about who was behind the project.

You have a valentine written just for you on Alameda. Freshly painted bright red mailboxes have been popping up in quiet neighborhood slow streets within Alameda. On the side of the box it reads:

“Read a love letter.
Write a love letter.”

As you open the box, you see two trays. One tray is filled with blank white cards in red envelopes and the other has already written Love letters. The setup is complete with hand sanitizer, instructions, and small sharpened pencils. On the mailbox’s door, painted in black on red wood, it reads:

Love is in the air!
Celebrate with a love letter
READ A LOVE LETTER
– Return the letter for someone else to read or take it with you
WRITE A LOVE LETTER
– write a letter to someone special or no one at all
– Draw a heart on the envelope
– Put the letter in the Love Letters tray

During our visit, we opted to write a letter and read a few. We left them all behind for others to enjoy. Ours was a simple quote from a couple of love songs.

Small white card has Police lyrics and signed by Jenny. References from two songs. The letter sits on top of a stack of red envelopes above an open red mailbox

Though, I think my favorite uses the very Bay Area word “hella”. “It’s hella tough… but yr still at it. Which is impressive”

Even tiny love letters are hella Bay Area

We aren’t sure how long they’ve been around or how long they will be here for but I saw them first reported on Feb 5th on an Alameda neighborhood online group. When we arrived on Feb 6th, the smell of red spray paint was still very strong as if it was just recently created. Outside of creating your own Free Little Art Gallery, this give positivity and take positivity interactive mailbox is sure to spread some joy, delight, and kindness this season. We hope there are more of these mailboxes around. We could all use a little extra love.

The lovely mailbox I found myself is on Versailles between Lincoln and Santa Clara on Alameda.
We did learn that there are many more that have been placed all around Alameda!

The 2022 locations below: (see Editor’s note for 2024 locations)
– San Jose Street at Willow <– this has since been moved to San Jose and Walnut after someone called it in as garbage.
– Pacific at Morton
– Santa Clara at 5th.
– The Point by the new park on Seaplane Lagoon
– Pearl Harbor Road & Orion Street

No doubt there are more than just these! Chime in below when you’ve found one and where you found it!