1. In 1777, during the American Revolution, the Battle of Germantown took place in Pennsylvania. New Jersey troops played a major role in the battle and suffered heavy casualties.

2. In 1852, the first regular steam ferry service between Hoboken and New York City began. The service helped to increase commuter traffic between New Jersey and New York City.

3. In 1919, the first transcontinental air race began at the New York Speedway in New Jersey. The race covered a distance of 3,400 miles and took eight days to complete.

4. In 1956, the Garden State Parkway was opened to traffic. The toll road runs from the southern end of the state to the northern border, linking Atlantic City with New York City.

5. In 1965, New Jersey became the first state to allow the sale of lottery tickets. The lottery has since become one of the state's most popular forms of gambling and has generated billions of dollars in revenue for the state's education programs.