1. On January 20, 1783, the American Revolution significantly came to an end in New Jersey when Great Britain agreed to independence with the burgeoning nation. Shortly before dawn, a treaty was signed in Paris by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, setting the stage for the birth of the United States.

2. January 20, 1953, was a poignant day in New Jersey history for a different reason: It marked the inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower as the 34th President of the United States. While the festivities occurred in Washington, D.C., the Garden State tried its best to keep up with the inauguration's grandeur. In Newark, Governor Alfred E. Driscoll kicked off the 24-hour celebration with a ceremony at the city's Washington Park armory.

3. On January 20, 1862, the Civil War was raging, and the Battle of Mill Springs concluded with a Union victory that many believe ultimately helped the Union win the war. Known in Confederate circles as the Battle of Fishing Creek, it was one of the first decisive defeats against the rebel army.

4. Another historic first took place on January 20, 2018, when Phil Murphy was sworn in as New Jersey's 56th governor. Murphy succeeded Chris Christie, becoming the first Democrat to lead the state since the early-2000s. In doing so, he inherited a state that faced several challenges, including a public transportation system in disarray and an underfunded pension plan. Murphy's initial executive order was to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024.

5. Lastly, January 20 is a bittersweet day for the state's sports enthusiasts as it marks the anniversary of two significant events that occurred years apart. In 2019, the New Jersey Devils' Taylor Hall scored a pair of goals in a 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks to extend his point-scoring streak to an impressive 19 games played. Conversely, on January 20, 1985, the San Francisco 49ers creamed the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX, played at Stanford Stadium in California. Still, several key members of the team that racked up four championships in the '80s hailed from New Jersey.

Overall, January 20 tells the story of New Jersey: a state steeped in history, politics, war and peace, and the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.