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Southernmost
Point in the Continental U.S.A.
1400 Whitehead Street
- Key West , Florida
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Did
you know?
The original Southernmost Point Marker was a sign. Picture
July '75 |
The
sign was placed sometime around 1970. It was a very
popular "hot item" and the sign was frequently
taken home by visitors to Key West! What a nice souvenir.
The
town wanted something that could not be stolen. The
solution was what is found today, a 12' tall 7' wide
concrete buoy that marks the spot. It doesn't look 12'
tall to me, maybe 10'.
"Can
someone please tell me how the Florida Keys are considered
Continental"?
Answer, they are above the water line and they connect
to the Florida mainland.
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| Did
you know?
The Southernmost Point Buoy was dedicated Sept 10, 1983.
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The Southernmost
Point Buoy Spring 2024
 The
generally accepted Southernmost Point in the
Continental U.S.A is the Southernmost Point
Buoy in Key West. It is located at 1400 Whitehead
Street (the
corner of South Street and Whitehead Street
). The
area is known as the Upper End of Duval Street
and Old Town. The buoy is found at the Bottom
Center on this MAP
.
It can also be found on a different map a little
lower on this page.
The
Buoy has seen several changes through the years.
Most of the changes has been the wording.
 Changing
"90 Miles to Cuba", 3 pictures, 3
changes. The removal of the word "THE".
And "Home of the Sunset" written in
script was once beneath "KEY WEST, FL"
along with a small palm tree, all three at the
very bottom of the buoy. The wording has been
removed, replaced with black paint but leaving
in place the small lone palm tree. See first
picture located above.
Wording
has been added and subtracted. So in my opinion,
since 1983, the colorful buoy has been a work
in progress that continues to change with the
times. My guess is someone is going to think
of a new phrase to put next to the lone palm
tree.
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You
will find many Southernmost Point souvenirs at the
local shops in this area of Old Town.
It is an interesting
12' tall concrete tourist trap, (it does not look 12'
tall, maybe 10'), but thousands of visitors to Key West
have their picture taken in front of or beside the buoy
every year. Maybe you should too. |
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Did
you know?
The Real Southernmost Point in Key West is 900 feet South
West. |
| That's right.
It is located on the Navy Base that is fenced and off limits,
about 300 yards away. It is between Fort Zachary Taylor
Park/ Beach and the Buoy, in Key West, Florida.
FYI
- The south end of Fort Zachary Taylor Park is even a
little more south than the Buoy is.
SPOILER ALERT: The Southernmost Point
Buoy is really the Third Southernmost Point on the island
of Key West. See for yourself on the map. But, there is
another spoiler.
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|
Did
you know?
The REAL Southernmost Point is a Key 10 miles South of
Key West! |
| Yep. It is called
Ballast Key. The 14 to 24 to 26 acre island (varies with
the tide and sandbars) was purchased in late 1973 by Real
Estate developer David Wolkowsky (1919-2018). He was known
as Mr. Key West. He put forth a lot of effort, time and
money redeveloping Key West, especially Old Town, into a
funky & artsy area to attract both tourists and artists.
 Ballast
Key
was vacant so he added a steel structured home, a guest
house and a pier. It is about 9 - 10 miles further south
of Key West! Ballast Key is owned by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service but managed by the Nature Conservancy for scientific
research. The island was donated to the Nature Conservancy,
who in turn placed it in the care of the Fish & Wildlife
Service. That was sometime around 2019.
The Key is
part of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. It is a
popular destination for bird watchers and boaters. I would
bet it is fun to snorkel there too.
I believe
it is the same island that I saw a sea plane tied to a
pier and a beached house boat years ago on our trip to
the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson.
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 |
Tales
and Truths from the Southernmost Point
They
are retold by a lifetime Key Wester. Candid, at
times funny, and insightful. Born and raised in
Key West allows a first hand account of how they
were heard and passed down from generation to generation.
Check
it out today.
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Another project!
David Wolkowsky built the Pier House at 1 Duval Street,
which opened in 1967. Jimmy Buffett arrived in Key West
with Jerry Jeff Walker in 1971 and Jimmy was soon playing
in the Chart Room bar there at the Pier House.
Someone else
played in the Chart Room bar around that same magical
time in Key West, the 70's. You may have heard of him.
He was from Jamaica. Bob Marley, who brought his style
of reggae music to Key West and the rest of the world.
And a certain
treasure hunter spent so much time there at the Chart
Room bar, that it was known as his other office. Mel Fisher.
He found the Atocha treasure.
"Today's the Day".
The Chart Room
Bar is the perfect starting place for your Duval
Street Bar Crawl.
Please visit
our Chart
Room Bar web page (which is being redesigned).
Mr. Wolkowsky
also rehabbed the buildings that are now the location
of Captain Tony's Saloon and Sloppy Joe's Bar. Among others!
He was a true visionary.
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|
Did
you know?
The
Hemingway Home & Museum is a short stroll away - 907
Whitehead. |
  The
Hemingway
Home & Museum with the six toed kitties
is a must visit.
Click to our
web
page for Hemingway Home history, pictures,
meet his four wives, learn about the real Hemingway, and
much more.
From the Southern
Most Point it is a short walk to
the Ernest
Hemingway Home and Museum at
907 Whitehead Street. Open
365 Days a Year! Highly recommended! Guided Tour, Admission
Required!
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