1. In 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the first Continental Navy fleet which was initially comprised of five ships. Many sailors from New Jersey served in this fledgling naval force during the American Revolution.
2. On May 16, 1836, the first official passenger train service in New Jersey commenced operation between Jersey City and Newark. This railway was a major breakthrough for commuters as well as the state's economy.
3. In 1919, New Jersey ratified the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. This was a significant milestone in the ongoing fight for gender equality.
4. The USS New Jersey, one of the four Iowa-class battleships, was commissioned on May 16, 1943 during World War II. It went on to become the most decorated battleship in US naval history and is now a museum in Camden, NJ.
5. In 1996, the East Coast's first sanctioned beach volleyball tournament was held on the beaches of Wildwood. This event helped to popularize the sport in the state and cemented New Jersey's reputation as a great destination for beach sports.