Key West proclaims February 8 Elizabeth Bishop Day to honor poet

The Key West City Commission, led by Mayor Danise “Deedee” Henriquez, formally proclaimed February 8 as Elizabeth Bishop Day during a January 12 ceremony that recognized the late poet’s deep ties to the island. The declaration underscores local government support for preserving Bishop’s legacy and for the cultural programming tied to her work.

Elizabeth Bishop lived in Key West in the 1930s and 1940s and drew inspiration from the subtropical flora, fauna and people of the island. Her time here is credited with a lasting transformation in her poetic style, and she completed her first book, North and South, while living in Key West. That literary connection is now the focus of efforts to maintain and promote the sites and stories that shaped her work.

Malcolm Willison, a member of the Elizabeth Bishop Key West Committee, accepted the proclamation at the commission meeting. The proclamation notes that Bishop’s former home on White Street has been acquired by the Key West Literary Seminar and is being restored to preserve its condition from the period when she lived there. That acquisition and restoration represent a private-public intersection in which local cultural institutions and municipal recognition combine to conserve Monroe County’s literary landmarks.

For residents, the proclamation carries practical implications beyond symbolism. Official recognition can help local organizations secure grant support, broaden cultural tourism marketing and encourage educational partnerships with schools and libraries. It also signals municipal priorities: the commission’s action places cultural heritage alongside other city initiatives when City Hall sets its agenda and budgets.

In honor of the 115th anniversary of Bishop’s birth, people will gather at the Gardens Hotel on Feb. 8 for a public reading of her work and a celebration of her contribution to literature. The event will offer Monroe County residents and visitors a chance to connect with Bishop’s writing in the place that shaped it.

The takeaway? Celebrate the chance to see Key West’s literary history preserved and to participate in the Feb. 8 reading at the Gardens Hotel; attend commission meetings or cultural events to support restoration efforts and make sure local priorities reflect community values. Our two cents? When city proclamations turn into tangible preservation and programming, it pays to show up and help steer how those investments serve residents.