1. In 1776, American General Nathanael Greene marched his troops through New Jersey on his way to Philadelphia, preventing British General William Howe from advancing northward.

2. In 1890, Thomas Edison established the world's first movie studio in West Orange, New Jersey. Edison's studio was responsible for producing some of the earliest motion pictures.

3. In 1975, the New Jersey State Aquarium opened in Camden. The aquarium featured a variety of marine animals, including sharks, dolphins, and sea turtles.

4. In 2001, the New Jersey Devils hockey team played their first game at the newly built Prudential Center in Newark. The arena is named after the insurance company that is headquartered in Newark.

5. In 2017, New Jersey became the eighth state to legalize recreational marijuana use. The law took effect on January 1, 2018, allowing adults over the age of 21 to possess and use small amounts of marijuana.