The Southernmost Point Buoy marks what has become a geographic distinction of the continental United States in Key West, Florida. This concrete anchor has become an icon for the area that compels activity from visitors and appears on all sorts of merchandise, highlighting what an especially imaginative approach to cultivating attention and activity can look like.
From a Small Sign to a Massive Buoy
The history of the southernmost point is documented on a marker at the site, which goes back to when the island was part of the Spanish Empire. After it was purchased and claimed as an American possession the area was used to access the beach as would eventually be a place where fishermen would store boats and sell products, including conch shells.
The spot would become known as the southernmost point in the continental United States by the mid 20th century. It was marked with a small sign and became a tourist attraction in Key West for many years. To establish something more permanent, the Key West Public Works Department created the 12 feet tall and 7 feet wide Southernmost Point Buoy in 1983. Colored black, red, and white, it stands 18 feet above sea level.
While Cuba is roughly 90 miles south of where the Southernmost Point Buoy resides in Key West, several islands that are part of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge are farther south than the monument. This fact has has compelled debate across the community and beyond as they discuss the veracity of this “southernmost” claim. All of this has cultivated further interest in the landmark.
The Southernmost Point Buoy has enabled the creation of several Southernmost-themed hotels, inns, restaurants, bars, and gift shops in the vicinity, defining what has become a robust tourist economy. It has become one of the most visited and photographed attractions in the United States that attracts the attention of literal busloads of tourists and visitors.
A scenic spot for watching the sunrise and passing storms also typically sees lines for photos form at and around the monument. These multiple means of engagement highlight the incredible activity that an imaginative approach to a monument can enable for a community and an entire region.
A Landmark for Key West
Recognized as one of Key West’s most iconic landmarks, the Southernmost Point Buoy is close enough to the geographically accurate southernmost point of the continental United States for the vast majority of visitors. This imaginative approach to engagement with a unique feature of the region showcases how being close enough can be enough to compel attention from across an entire country.
