1863   Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address at dedication of the Soldier's National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

1991   Senator John Heinz of Pennsylvania, belonging to the famous Heinz family, and six others are killed when a helicopter collided with their plane over the airspace in Merion, Pennsylvania. The helicopter pressed in to service to determine the cause of landing problem of their plane flew too close to inspect.

1995   A black motorist dies of asphyxiation during an altercation with police after being stopped in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for driving erratically.

2001   Nearly 3,000 people are killed in a series of coordinated terrorist attacks perpetrated by al-Qaeda against the United States. The attacks take place in New York City, Arlington, Virginia, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

2001   Tom Ridge resigns as Governor of Pennsylvania to serve as the "Assistant to the President for Homeland Security" in the Bush administration.