An anchored concrete buoy in front of you, the Southernmost Point Buoy claims to mark the southernmost point in the continental United States—even though it is neither the true southernmost point of the continental U.S. nor of Key West. The city established it as a tourist attraction on September 10, 1983, replacing a small sign that once marked the spot. This large painted buoy rises 18 feet (5.5 m) above sea level at the corner of South Street and Whitehead Street, and it has become a now-famous gathering place for photographs and tourists.
It has withstood several hurricanes, though its paint was damaged by Hurricane Irma in September 2017 and was refurbished later that year by the original artist. As it proclaims, Cuba lies roughly 90 miles (140 km) to the south of this point — a note that originally stood on a smaller sign beside the marker before appearing on the buoy itself. More recently, on September 4, 2025, a duplicate concrete buoy was installed at the end of nearby Duval Street while seawall repair commenced at the corner of Whitehead and Duval.
Picture Cuba lying about 90 miles (140 km) south across the water.