1. On October 15, 1783, the first successful hot-air balloon flight in America took place in New Jersey. A Frenchman named Jean-Pierre Blanchard piloted the balloon from Deptford Township to Mantua, covering a distance of about 15 miles.

2. In 1908, the first Ford Model T automobile was assembled at a factory in New Jersey on this day. The Model T, also known as the "Tin Lizzie," was the first affordable car for the average American.

3. On October 15, 1939, a massive fire broke out at the historic Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey. The fire destroyed several rides and buildings and caused millions of dollars in damages. Despite the devastation, the park was able to reopen the following year.

4. In 1966, the famous movie star Elizabeth Taylor married Richard Burton for the first time in a ceremony in Jersey City, New Jersey. The couple had previously met while filming Cleopatra and went on to have a tumultuous relationship that included several marriages and divorces.

5. On October 15, 1970, a group of activists broke into the draft board office in Camden, New Jersey, and destroyed records in protest of the Vietnam War. The "Camden 28," as they came to be known, were eventually arrested and tried, but their actions helped raise awareness about the anti-war movement.