Government House Benchmark - Reykjavik, Iceland - European Historic Survey Stones, Monuments and Benchmarks on Waymarking.com

The benchmark consists of an anchor in the wall on the right side of the building near the front corner. The building was constructed from 1765-1770 and has a long and varied history. We believe the benchmark was originally gray like the other ones we've seen in town, but it has been painted white to match the building.

"The Government House/ Cabinet House (Stjornarrad) has been known under various names since it was built as a prison in 1765-70. The governor of Iceland at the time, Skuli Magnusson, was an ideologist, who wanted to create employment possibilities for the agricultural population of the country by building wool factories. He managed to see his dream come true, but workers were hard to come by. He there for used the inmates that were fit for work as workers in the factories.

The house served as a prison until 1816. It had stood empty for about three years, when the Danish governor, count Moltke, arrived and found his lodgings uninhabitable and his office space unusable. He had the Government fund the reconstruction of the empty prison and moved in with his family and officials.

In 1874, the millennium of the Danish inhabitancy of the country was celebrated in Iceland, and the Danish king, Christian IX, participated. He brought with him the Iceland's first constitution and delivered it to the Icelandic nation in Þingvellir, were the ancient Parliament was held."

--Source (visit link)

Visit Instructions:
1. A closeup photo of the waymark with your GPS, or (a part of) you in it, is required.
2. An area photo including the waymark in the view is highly appreciated.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   11/09/2019 Cirque Du Freak visited it 07/15/2018 seapanda visited it 07/10/2018 HockeyHiker19 visited it 03/04/2018 Rymyhomie visited it

View all visits/logs