Here are ten cool facts about New Jersey:

1. Birthplace of the Light Bulb: Thomas Edison developed the first commercially practical incandescent light bulb in his Menlo Park laboratory in 1879, revolutionizing modern lighting.

2. Dinosaur Capital: New Jersey is home to the first nearly complete dinosaur skeleton discovered in North America, the Hadrosaurus foulkii, found in Haddonfield in 1858.

3. Most Diner-Dense State: New Jersey is often called the “Diner Capital of the World,” with over 500 diners, more per capita than any other state, offering classic American comfort food.

4. Saltwater Taffy Origin: Atlantic City is credited with popularizing saltwater taffy in the 1880s, a sweet treat still iconic to the Jersey Shore.

5. First Drive-In Theater: The world’s first drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, New Jersey, in 1933, pioneered by Richard Hollingshead. The price of admission was 25 cents for the car and 25 cents per person.

6. Blueberry Leader: New Jersey is one of the top producers of blueberries in the U.S., with Hammonton often called the “Blueberry Capital of the World.”

7. Ellis Island Shared: While often associated with New York, about 83% of Ellis Island, the historic immigration gateway, is legally part of New Jersey following a 1998 Supreme Court ruling.

8. Boardwalk Beginnings: Atlantic City’s Boardwalk, built in 1870, was the first in the world and remains a cultural icon, inspiring the board in the game Monopoly – which was created in New Jersey.

9. Revolutionary War Hub: New Jersey was a key battleground during the American Revolution, with over 100 battles fought, earning it the nickname “Crossroads of the Revolution.”

10. Invention of the Submarine: The first practical submarine, the Holland I, was developed by John Philip Holland in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1878, laying the groundwork for modern submarine technology.

BONUS!!

11. Birthplace of Modern Cryptography: At Bell Labs in Murray Hill, Claude Shannon published his groundbreaking work on information theory in 1948, laying the foundation for modern cryptography and digital communication—basically, the backbone of the internet age.

12. Secret Nuclear Bunker: Deep in the Pine Barrens, a Cold War-era nuclear warhead storage site, known as “K-9,” was hidden from the public for decades, a chilling reminder of NJ’s strategic military past.