President Abraham Lincoln is remembered for many reasons within the United States and worldwide, but one of his most significant contributions to history was his legendary Gettysburg Address. While this speech was originally intended to dedicate a cemetery, it evolved into something much more diverse and powerful, a tool that Lincoln used to propel the Union cause forward. What goals did Lincoln hope to achieve when he spoke these powerful words, and how have those achievements evolved into modern history?What Was the Gettysburg Address?President Abraham Lincoln, highlighted in red, at Gettysburg a few hours before giving his famous address. Source: Library of Congress/Wikimedia CommonsAbraham Lincoln is considered by historians to be one of the most eloquent of the nations past presidents, known for his flowing speeches and written work that was articulate yet used simple language that appealed to the nations citizenry as a whole. He utilized the newspaper as a way to reach the populace in an era before mass media, and gave stunning speeches, including his annual congressional addresses and the Gettysburg Address.The Gettysburg Address was given on November 19, 1863, in Gettysburg. The location, in Adams County, Pennsylvania, was home to a devastating battle just months prior. Over July 1-3, the Battle of Gettysburg, a turning point in the American Civil War, raged. These three days made up the bloodiest single battle of the entire war. The battle saw the Confederate troops invade the north, for only the second timeand it would be the last. The battle concluded in a Union win, ending Confederate General Robert E. Lees bid to take the Union army within its own territory and change the trajectory of the war, though fighting would continue for two more years. Over 51,000 soldiers were estimated to be casualties of the battle, with almost 4,000 Confederates and just over 3,100 Union soldiers perishing. Another result of the fighting was the establishment of a cemetery for the Union dead at the battle site. Though he was not the keynote speaker, President Lincoln was invited to the dedication ceremony for the cemetery and asked to make a few appropriate remarks to the crowd of approximately 15,000.Union dead on the battlefield after the first day of fighting at Gettysburg in July 1863. Source: Library of Congress/Wikimedia CommonsLincoln did so in a speech that is rather short, considering its iconic reputation. Less than 275 words in length, the oration didnt even take three minutes to share. However, within those three minutes, Lincoln managed to stretch the purpose of his narration to meet several political and fundamental goals for the Union cause.Honoring Fallen SoldiersBattle of Gettysburg by Thure de Thulstrup, restored by Adam Cuerden. Source: Library of Congress & Adam Cuerden/Wikimedia CommonsThe first and original goal of the Gettysburg Address was a nod to the dedication ceremony and the reason Lincoln had been invited to Pennsylvania. He honored the sacrifice of the soldiers who lay dead at Gettysburg and of those who continued to fight to preserve the nation. He spoke of those who here gave their lives that the nation might live. He said that these brave men had already consecrated their resting place and that there was little that those in attendance for the dedication could do to outweigh the honor that the soldiers had already bestowed upon the grounds.Tying the War to the Cause of FreedomA presidential campaign ad from 1864 illustrates Abraham Lincoln as a champion of freedom for all, and his opponent, George McClellan, as siding with the Confederacy and upholding the institution of slavery. Source: Library of Congress/Wikimedia CommonsHowever, Lincoln did more in his address than simply honor the soldiers who had given their lives and were now buried at Gettysburg. Within his speech, Lincoln reminded his audience that the reason they were there was the cause of freedom for all. The first words of the speech harken back to the Declaration of Independence, meant to preserve freedom for all Americans.Coupled with the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been released in January of that year, Lincoln tied the Union cause with the abolition of slavery. While slavery was one of the key causes of the Civil War, for many in the American public, the focus of the war had been the preservation of the Union. Lincoln tied the two objectives together in his speech, promising that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.Inspiring Americans to ActionLincoln is depicted giving the Gettysburg Address in this lithograph. Source: Library of Congress/Wikimedia CommonsThe Gettysburg Address also served as a call to action for Americans, inspiring them to continue on in the fatiguing, bloody war that had already raged for over two years. In the speech, the audience was encouraged not to let these dead die in vain. His espousal of American values, including freedom, helped Americans make sense of the ongoing carnage, reminding them to be hopeful and to persevere. In Lincolns philosophy, the soldiers at Gettysburg and beyond gave their lives for the important tenets for which the war was being fought, and it was now up to the American people to continue supporting this fight. Lincolns words not only served to encourage Civil War-era citizens, but would continue to inspire Americans in future military conflicts and general challenges.Lincolns LegacyThe Gettysburg Address inscribed in the interior south wall of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Source: Wikimedia CommonsIn the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln remarked, The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here However, this prediction would prove to be markedly false. The Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches, not only in American history, but in world history. Within a month after the speech was given, it was being used in schools and is still utilized in education today, both as a study of this complex era of American history and as an example of effective oration.The Gettysburg Address was referenced in Senator Charles Sumners eulogy on Lincoln after his assassination less than two years later, and was invoked during anniversary celebrations relating to Lincoln and the Civil War. In the decades after, the address went on to be referenced in late 19th-century politics, particularly in regard to whether the government was truly still for the people or for big business during the Gilded Age.The speech was often quoted during the Civil Rights Era, where freedom was a central theme, and during the Cold War to promote pro-American sentiments on a global stage. In 1959, the State Department issued 50,000 reproductions of the Gettysburg Address, some with translations in different languages, with a preface explaining that Lincolns speech will endure forever as an expression of the spirit of the United States of America. The speech also played a starring role in a series of comic books in numerous languages that were distributed throughout Southeast Asia as an effort to cultivate pro-American feelings.An excerpt from Lincolns speech was printed on postage stamps in 1948. Source: Smithsonian National Postal Museum/Wikimedia CommonsLincolns oratory skills contributed to the success of the speech as well. Though what he said made the speech important, the way he said it was just as important. The keynote speaker of the day, Edward Everett, had spoken for two hours before Lincoln gave the address, and while Everetts speech is not considered a bad speech, it is remembered very little today due to its length. Lincolns to-the-point approach and simple, yet effective, language make the speech accessible to many. Everett himself later said, I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours, as you did in two minutes. The concise nature of the Gettysburg Address allowed for easy reprinting in newspapers and pamphlets, disseminating the message beyond the crowd at Gettysburg that day.Today, five surviving copies of the speech in Lincolns own handwriting exist, two of them produced before the speech was given, with one likely being the copy Lincoln used to refer to on the day of the dedication. The others were produced after the speech for benefit events. The copies are owned by the Library of Congress, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the White House, and Cornell University. These copies are on display periodically and are a stark physical reminder of the addresss enduring legacy.A political cartoon from 1943 recalls the legacy of the Gettysburg Address. Source: National Archives at College Park/Wikimedia CommonsThe Gettysburg Address, though it may have started out with a singular purpose, evolved to meet numerous goals of the American president and government during one of the countrys most trying times. The impact of Lincolns words cannot be underestimated and is still evident decades later in its eloquent legacy.

Photononstop / Alamy Stock PhotoThe loneliest house in the world on the Icelandic island of Ellidaey.Perched on a remote island near Iceland, battered by North Atlantic winds and surrounded by nothing but the endless ocean, stands a solitary white building often referred to as the loneliest house in the world. This isolated structure has garnered significant interest over the years, with various rumors and legends spreading about its history. Some say it was built by a billionaire survivalist as a bunker to ride out a zombie apocalypse. Others believe it belongs to Icelandic singer Bjrk. However, the truth is much less thrilling: The worlds loneliest house is nothing more than a humble hunting lodge.The home can only be reached by traveling to Ellidaey Island by boat and scrambling up a steep, rocky cliff. And with just puffins as neighbors, any visitors are guaranteed to be the only humans as far as the eye can see. The Uninhabited Island Of Ellidaey In The Vestmannaeyjar ArchipelagoHansueli Krapf/Wikimedia CommonsEllidaey as seen from the Atlantic, with mainland Iceland looming in the background.The loneliest house in the world stands on Ellidaey, the northernmost island in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago, which is located about five miles south of Icelands mainland. At 110 acres, the tiny isle is roughly the size of Vatican City.Known for its steep cliffs, grassy slopes, and rocky terrain, Ellidaey is part of a chain of 18 volcanic isles formed by a series of eruptions over the past 12,000 years. While only one of the islands is permanently inhabited today, the others may have historically held small camps or settlements where residents survived on fish, birds, and eggs. The areas population began rising with the invention of motor boats in the late 19th century, and the town of Vestmannaeyjabr on Heimaey, one of the islands next to Ellidaey, began to grow. Today, Vestmannaeyjabrs population is around 4,400.In January 1973, a volcano on Heimaey called Eldfell erupted, and volcanic ash covered the surrounding islands, including Ellidaey. At least 400 homes in Vestmannaeyjabr were destroyed, and the lava flow almost closed off the harbor, which would have been devastating to the towns fishing industry. However, an operation to pump seawater onto the flow successfully cooled and stopped it before it reached the ports.Hansueli Krapf/Wikimedia CommonsVestmannaeyjabr, the closest town to Ellidaey and the worlds loneliest house.In addition to active volcanoes, the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago is also home to one of the worlds largest puffin colonies, with hundreds of thousands of these seabirds flocking to the region to nest during their breeding season.The surrounding waters of the Atlantic Ocean are equally rich in marine life, from lobsters and seals to several whale species.But beyond its importance as a North Atlantic ecosystem, there would be little to say about Ellidaey if it were not for the solitary white house standing in stark contrast to the green slopes around it.Theories About The Worlds Loneliest HouseOver the years, many rumors have spread about the so-called loneliest house in the world. The fact that its not frequented by tourists has only bolstered some of the stranger conspiracy theories surrounding Ellidaey.Some people believe that the isolated home was built by a mysterious billionaire to survive a future zombie apocalypse, though there is no evidence to support this.Bjarni Sigurdsson/YouTubeAn interior view of the loneliest house in the world.Theres even a common misconception that the singer Bjrk owns Earths loneliest house. As reported by Snopes, Prime Minister David Oddsson of Iceland offered Bjrk the exclusive use of an uninhabited island called Ellidaey in February 2000 because of her contributions to the country. She turned down the offer, as she didnt want her home to draw tourists. However, the island Oddsson was referring to is located in western Iceland, more than 100 miles from the loneliest house in the world. So, who does own the famous white home on Ellidaey?Who Built The Loneliest House In The World?Despite the lively rumors surrounding the worlds loneliest house, it was actually built in 1953 as a hunting lodge by the Ellidaey Hunting Association. Members would seemingly gather to shoot the large numbers of puffins that gathered on Ellidaeys shores. Aconcagua/Wikimedia CommonsAn Atlantic puffin on the shores of Iceland.Also known as Ball House, the lodge has a small kitchen, bathroom, and living space downstairs and a bunk room upstairs. There is also a small storage building nearby and in true Nordic fashion a sauna.The homes front porch looks out on the grassy expanse of Ellidaey, the surrounding Atlantic Ocean, and other nearby islands that are part of the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. The closest is Bjarnarey, which sits less than a mile away and also has a small lodge. And a little more than two miles away is the island of Heimaey, home to the town of Vestmannaeyjabr. The only way to reach the worlds loneliest house is by boat, but there are no docks or ports on Ellidaey. Instead, visitors must carefully climb a rocky cliff, hauling any supplies up with them. This trek doesnt scare off many people, though as of 2022, there were more than 11,000 signatures in the lodges guest book.Still, tourism is limited due to the islands conservation status. Ellidaey is protected as part of Icelands natural heritage. The hunting association maintains the property while preserving the islands ecosystem. Puffin populations on the island are also monitored by researchers, as the birds have faced declining numbers in many parts of Iceland due to changing ocean conditions and food availability. Wojciech Strzelecki Wojtrix/Wikimedia CommonsThe worlds loneliest house can only be reached by boat.The worlds loneliest house itself has undergone periodic maintenance to preserve it against the harsh North Atlantic weather, but it remains intentionally rustic to maintain its historical character. So, while there are no grand conspiracies involving billionaires or Bjrk at play on Ellidaey, it does still have plenty to offer in terms of scenic views and its vibrant ecosystem. If nothing else, the loneliest house in the world has helped shine a brighter light on Icelandic culture, history, and humanitys complex relationship with the natural world. After reading about the loneliest house in the world, learn about Rat Island, the only privately-owned island in New York City. Or, go inside the legend of Hy-Brasil, the mythical Irish isle that is said to appear once every seven years.The post The Fascinating Story Of The Remote Island Lodge Known As The Loneliest House In The World appeared first on All That's Interesting.

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