1. In 1866, the first National Bank was established in Newark, New Jersey. It was one of the first banks in the country to join the new banking system created by the National Currency Act of 1863.

2. On April 10, 1926, the world-renowned inventor Thomas Edison spoke at the dedication ceremony of the new academic building at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Known as Voorhees Hall, the building is still in use today and serves as a symbol of collaboration between academia and industry.

3. In 1968, the city of Newark experienced a violent uprising, when tensions between the police and the African American community boiled over after the police beating of a taxi driver. The riot lasted for six days, and resulted in 26 deaths, over 700 injuries, and widespread property damage.

4. On April 10, 1980, the New Brunswick-based biotech company Genentech became the first biotechnology firm to go public. The company's successful IPO paved the way for the biotech industry as we know it today.

5. The Trenton Thunder, a minor league baseball team affiliated with the New York Yankees, played their first ever home opener on April 10, 1994. The team has since become a beloved institution in the state, and has won three league championships in its history.