It’s one of the most iconic addresses given by a politician in American history.
Tuesday marks the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s address on the battlefield in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. (Via Flickr)
President Lincoln was speaking in front of 15,000 spectators. You can see him here in the only undisputed photograph of the president on that day. (Via Library of Congress / David Bachrach)
The president was speaking at the Consecration of the National Cemetery, created for the Union casualties of the Battle of Gettysburg. (Via Wikimedia Commons / Henryhartley)
The cemetery provided a proper burial site for the fallen soldiers of the epic battle earlier that year, the majority of whom had been buried in shallow earthen graves. According to the National Park Service, there are at least 100 Confederate soldiers still buried in the thick woods around the battlefield. (Via Library of Congress / Edwin Forbes)
Ironically, while President Lincoln’s speech will go down in history, he wasn’t even the featured speaker.
That honor belonged to former Harvard President Edward Everett, who spoke more than TWO HOURS. He was immediately followed by the president, who spoke for just two minutes. (Via Massachusetts Historical Society)
To mark the historic anniversary, the National Park Service is hosting a series of events… parts of the ceremony are available to watch online.
