Southernmost Point, Key West

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If you've Googled you way to this page with "go all the way", you're about to be disappointed.

With this simple tip, I'm saying that you might as well do what every other living tourist who visits Key West does. Go down to the "southernmost point in the USA" marker and have your photo taken. I wonder if there are people in Cuba doing the same thing 90 miles to the south?

A good time to do the southernmost marker would be when you choose to also visit the Hemingway House, The Butterfly Conservatory or the Key West Lighthouse. They're all on this end of the island.

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The giant bouy, encircles in black, yellow and red stripes symbolizes the southernmost point in the continental USA, just 90 miles from Cuba.
However, the geographical southernmost point is not here; it lies about one mile to the Westsouthwest and may not be accessible by the public because the point is on a military area of the US Navy.

The place is most time of the day very crowded with a bunch of people around it getting their pics taken.. Best light for photos is in the morning, because the sun stands behind you. We visited the place late in the afternoon and that is one of the reasons, why my pictures not so good.

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Key West is the southernmost city in the continental United States. At the corner of Whitehead and South Streets you will find a large concrete buoy which marks the actual Southernmost Point which is only 90 miles from Cuba.

The buoy marks a backdrop for many a tourist to Key West - in fact, there are that many that visit for photos that they have a volunteer on duty to take the photo for you!

The City of Key West erected the monument in 1983 and it is one of the most visited, photographed attractions in Key West. It is also a very busy location and is crowded most of the day, the trick to beat the lines is to go early in the morning when you can also get the wonderful colors of sunrise.

While geographically, the true southernmost point of Key West is located on restricted military property, a colorful buoy at the south end of Whitehead Street serves as the officially designated "Southermost Point" of the continental United States. Standing here one can look out to sea toward the small, communist nation of Cuba. While Cuba is too distant to actually see from here, it is only 90 miles away. That's less than the distance from Key West to Miami.

Casa Cayo Hueso, built in 1896, is the southernmost house in the continental US. It is owned by the Ramos-Lopez family, which is one of Florida's oldest merchant families. They began in Spanish colonial Florida at St. Augustine and moved to Key West in 1819. The family has owned the house since 1939.

The house is now a 12-room hotel and museum. The museum boasts original documents, letter, photos, and signatures dating back all the way to 1486 from Queen Isabella of Spain, and autographs of every US president. There is also a Hemingway exhibit.

The museum is open daily with guided tours from 9am-5pm. Admission is charged and includes access to the grounds.

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I've never been able to understand the fascination with the Southernmost stuff. If you look in the Key West phone book, you'll find the

Southernmost or (Southern Most)

...Beachwear
...Branch 818 NALC
...Brewery
...Federal Credit Union
...Foot and Ankle Specialist
...General Contractor
...Gophers
...Grocery & Deli
...Hockey Club
...Homeless
...Hospitality & Reservations
...Hotel & Resort
...House Grand Hotel and Museum (pictured)
...Insurance Agency
...Jewelers Inc of FL
...Kitchen and Bath Showroom
...Mortgage Company
...Motel in the USA (pictured)
...Old Town Resorts
...on the Beach
...Personal Fitness
...Photo Lab One
...Point Guest House
...Point Reservations & Information Center
...Prayer and Faith Center Church
...Sailing
...Scavenger Hunt
...Seventh Day Adventist Church
...Shell
...Sign Service
...Sportswear

So I took a picture of the spot with the pylon, but didn't bother to go and get a picture of me standing there next to it. It is only the southernmost point in the Continental U.S. (Hawaii is farther south) as Doug (Tugboatguy) points out. I think even the real southernmost Key West point is on the Navy Base beyond the barrier on the right.

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A giant bouy, encircled in black, yellow and red stripes, sits at the Southernmost Point in the Continental USA. It tells you that you are only 90 miles from Cuba and 150 miles from Miami. Cute photo op!

Near this bouy is the Southernmost house, the Southernmost grocery, the Southernmost Law Firm, etc, etc, etc.

Okay, technically this isn’t the southernmost house anymore, there’s a couple closer, but this is the original and it’s a really cool building. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a great pic of it because you’re held back by a gate. This is, after all, someone’s residence.

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The marker, actually lookis like a buoy. It is located at the furthest south tip of Key West. The monument notes that Cuba is only 90 miles away. As you walk around you will see numerous other "Southernmosts" — hotel, house, restaurant, etc.

On the top of the monument is painted the logo of The Conch Republic. Twenty years ago, Key West, seeking to enhance its reputation as a free-wheeling, fun-loving, party without consequence kind of town, seceded from the United States, declaring itself The Conch Republic. I even met a guy who had a Conch Republic Passport.

In 1982 Key West, and the rest of the Florida Keys, briefly declared its "independence" as the Conch Republic in a protest over a United States Border Patrol blockade. This blockade was on U.S. 1. This was set up so the Border Patrol could stop every car leaving the Keys supposedly searching for illegal aliens attempting to enter the mainland United States. As of today Flags, T-shirts and other merchandise representing the Conch Republic are still popular souvenirs for visitors to Key West.

Some people make an argument that the Southernmost Point in The US is actually one key up, in Boca Chica. But i'm personaly not sure.

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We drove past Southernmost point once and were amazed by the throngs of people standing around taking pictures of a weird red, blue, yellow, and white striped buoy on land. I'm not sure what the real draw here is... Is this the southernmost point in the US? No, all of Hawaii is further south. Maybe it is the southernmost place in Florida? Oops, Ballast Key is farther south. Then it will just have to settle for being the southernmost point on Key West... nope, the Truman Annex has piece of land that juts more southward. Even the writing on the buoy is not accurate, Cuba is 94 miles way, not 90 miles! With all of the tourists, you can't even find a moment of peace here. The odd marker was erected in 1983 and is considered the most photographed point on the island. Why?

Skip this tourist buoy and check out the views from some of the nearby streets which are much quieter. Grab a sandwich and Cuban coffee and have a picnic along the water. Just skip the tourist gathering place.