1. On December 17, 1776, the Continental Army under General George Washington crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, launching a surprise attack on Hessian troops stationed in Trenton. This decisive victory helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War in favor of the Americans.

2. In 1807, future United States President John Quincy Adams arrived in New Jersey to begin his duties as the American minister to Russia. Adams served in this role for several years before returning to the United States to serve as Secretary of State under President James Monroe.

3. On December 17, 1903, the first flight ever made by the Wright Brothers took place in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. However, New Jersey played an important role in the development of aviation technology, as many pioneering aviators and airplane manufacturers were based in the state during the early 20th century.

4. In 1979, the state of New Jersey legalized casino gambling, opening the door to a booming gambling industry that has become an important part of the state's economy. Today, there are more than a dozen casinos operating in the state, generating billions of dollars in revenue annually.

5. On December 17, 2003, New Jersey Governor James McGreevey signed a law allowing same-sex couples to enter into civil unions, giving them many of the same legal rights and privileges as married couples. This was a major milestone in the struggle for LGBT rights in New Jersey and around the country.