1. On May 19, 1931, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the George Washington Bridge, which connects New Jersey and New York City. At the time of its opening in 1931, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.

2. On May 19, 1979, the first Atlantic City Airshow was held along the famous Boardwalk. Since then, it has become an annual tradition, attracting thousands of spectators each year.

3. On May 19, 1780, in the midst of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Connecticut Farms was fought in present-day Union, New Jersey. The battle was part of a series of skirmishes between American and British forces as the British advanced toward Morristown.

4. On May 19, 1962, Olympic gold medalist and New Jersey native Wilma Rudolph was honored with a ticker-tape parade in New York City. Rudolph, who overcame polio as a child, won three gold medals in track and field events at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.

5. On May 19, 1925, the State of New Jersey abolished capital punishment, becoming the first state to do so since Michigan in 1846. The death penalty was reinstated in 1982 but was abolished once again in 2007.