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President Obama's State of the Union address tonight promises to be different from past addresses in at least one respect -- instead of sitting in rigid partisan blocks, Republicans and Democrats will be interspersed throughout the House chamber in a symbolic display of bipartisanship. More substantively, however, the speech -- Obama's first before Congress since his party's resounding defeat in the midterm elections -- represents a chance for the president to signal a renewed focus on the economy and outline his policy agenda for the final two years of his first term -- an agenda he hopes will propel him to re-election.

In advance of the speech, we take a look back at 10 of the most notable addresses in United States history. Some on this list merit inclusion based on a particular policy proposal or memorable statement. Others are included simply for their proximity to historical events or the unique logistical circumstances surrounding them. All, however, are key political touchstones in American history.