"A larger than life concrete buoy marks the Southernmost Point in the continental United States, only 90 miles
from Cuba.
Located at the corner of South Street and Whitehead Street, it's the backdrop for a Kodak moment for virtually every traveler to Key West."
Well, that's pretty much the party line on the thing. . .
Actually the southernmost point in the continental United States is somewhere along the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor and as for our red, black and yellow concrete buoy, it's more like 94 miles from Cuba. (but, trust me, I understand better than most that marketing trumps truth every time).
image courtesy of conchscooter
Back in the day, the site was marked by a much less ostentatious sign that was stolen as many times as the city could replace it. So in 1983 the city fathers (and mothers) decided to plant a little something that was just a bit too big to fit in the trunk of a car. Since then, our Southernmost Point buoy has been the most visited and photographed attraction in Key West. (mostly, I'm thinkin', because it's FREE)
I've even heard a story that the place is haunted and if you get there at dusk or just before dawn, when no one else is around, you might see the ghost of a young man gazing out over the water to the horizon.
But like I mentioned earlier, marketing trumps truth
every time.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
southernmost point
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5 comments:
Very interesting...thanks for sharing.
Yes people do believe that marketing don't they. I have had my photo taken by the marker several times. Seems like I have to every time I take a new girlfriend to Key West. Relationship memories and all right? Good post.
Cheers!
Please feel free to reproduce any original photo as long as you give my blog the credit.
Didn't realize the shot was yours dude. Credit has been posted where credit is due.
Thank you, thank you, and again I say, thank you! For many years now I've looked at maps of Key West and declared that the Southern Most Point can not be the southern most point. No one wants to believe me. I always thought the S.M.P must be on military property but, since access would be restricted, the city of K.W. used the closest available spot. Thank you for putting in print what I've long suspected.
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