Good Morning, New Jersey

  1. Good morning, New Jersey!  We were originally settled by the Dutch and called New Netherlands.  Once the British took control of the land, they changed the name to New Jersey, from the Channel Isle of Jersey and split the colony into East Jersey and West Jersey.
  2. Good morning, New Jersey!  The first recorded settlement in New Jersey, in 1624, was on Burlington Island.  This 400 acre island off the banks of Burlington City, in the Delaware River, was also the site of an amusement park in the early 1900s.  Sadly, a fire destroyed the park, but plans are in the works for some exciting developments.
  3. Good morning, New Jersey!  Washington Township was the home of twenty-one Lenni-Lenape tribes.  The townships oldest community is the Grenloch Terrace area which was home to the thriving Lenape village called Tetamekon.
  4. Good morning, New Jersey!  In 1758, before we declared our independence from England, the Old Barracks in Trenton were built.  The largest building in the city, they housed 300 British and Irish soldiers.  During the Revolution, it also served as a hospital.
  5. Good morning, New Jersey!  In 1756, Princeton University was established.  If you visit the Yankee Doodle Tap Room in Princeton, you can see pictures of famous graduates who stayed at the Palmer Inn Hotel, including First Lady Michelle Obama, actor Jimmy Stewart, Governor’s Brendan T. Byrne and Thomas Kean, and astronaut Charles Conrad.
  6. Good morning, New Jersey!  In 1766, ten years after Princeton University was established, Rutgers University was founded, but it was called Queen’s College.  It wasn’t called Rutgers until 1825 when the school was hoping for a large donation from the wealthy Col. Henry Rutgers.  In the end, it worked and they got the donation they were seeking.
  7. Good morning, New Jersey!  In 1776, the state’s first newspaper, the New Jersey Gazette, issued its first edition.  Considered the state’s first regular newspaper, it ran until 1786.  Today, New Jersey has dozens of newspapers, the largest being the Newark Star Ledger.
  8. Good morning, New Jersey!  Constructed in 1750 and spanning the rocky Wickecheoke Creek, Green Sergeant’s Covered Bridge in Hunterdon County is the only remaining covered bridge in New Jersey that is accessible to the public.
  9. Good morning, New Jersey!   Built in 1750, the historic Oldwick General Store frequented by General Washington and his troops, is still selling goods today.  In addition to its remarkable history, this favorite for those in and near Oldwick, also has a diner and a deli.
  10. Good morning, New Jersey!  Nassau Hall is Princeton University’s best known structure and when it was built in 1756, it acted as the entire campus.  This impressive building housed students and classrooms for fifty years.
  11. Good morning, New Jersey!  We may be a small state, but more battles were fought in New Jersey during the Revolution, than any other state…over 100.
  12. Good morning, New Jersey!  Did you know that New Jersey is considered the turning point of the Revolution.  Until the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, we were losing and about to give up.  General Washington’s successes in New Jersey pumped new life into our efforts.
  13. Good morning, New Jersey!  You may wonder why you see so many statues of George Washington in New Jersey.  The answer is easy…with over 100 battles fought in New Jersey, he spent a lot of time here during the Revolution and even spent two winters in Morristown.
  14. Good morning, New Jersey!  In 1783, Princeton briefly served as the nation’s capital and in 1784, from November 1st through December 24th, Trenton served as the capital of the United States.
  15. Good morning, New Jersey!  In 1787, we were the third state to ratify the Constitution and in 1790, we were the first the sign the Bill of Rights.
  16. Good morning, New Jersey!   The Indian King Tavern in Haddonfield is the site where, in 1777, New Jersey was legally declared a state.  Now, a historic site and museum, see where the state legislature first adopted the Great Seal of New Jersey.
  17. Good morning, New Jersey!  Did you know that the longest and largest battle of the Revolutionary War was fought on the Monmouth Battlefield?  Did you further know that each June, New Jersey’s largest re-enactment is held there?  Visit the encampments, meet the re-enactors, and then watch the battle.
  18. Good morning, New Jersey!   Clara Barton is best known for starting the American Red Cross, but she also started the first free, public school in New Jersey right in Bordentown.
  19. Good morning, New Jersey!  If you’re in Lambertville, drive by 260 North Main Street.  It is a private residence that once belonged to the city’s first resident, John Holcombe.  Interestingly, George Washington slept there when he set up a temporary headquarters in 1778.
  20. Good morning, New Jersey!  The town of Cranbury was founded in 1697 and served as one of General Washington’s temporary headquarters during the American Revolution.  The historic village is listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
  21. Good morning, New Jersey!  The Johnson Ferry House in Washington Crossing State Park was owned and operated by Garret Johnson.  It was used by General Washington and his troops following their famous Delaware River crossing.  It was in this house that the General finalized his strategy for the attack on Trenton.
  22. Good morning, New Jersey!  Don’t worry about Martha Washington missing George too much during the war.  She spent many winters with her husband, including two in Morristown, at the Ford Mansion.
  23. Good morning, New Jersey!  The City of Trenton was named after William Trent, who originally named the area Trent’s Town.  His summer residence, the Trent House, is the city’s oldest residence and open for tours.
  24. Good morning, New Jersey!  Each year, during the week between Christmas and New Years, the City of Trenton travels back in time for Patriot’s week.  The week is filled with tours, exhibits, shows and two battle re-enactments through the city streets.
  25. Good morning, New Jersey!  In the City of Burlington, the Burlington Pharmacy, now known as Wheatley’s, is New Jersey’s oldest continuously operating pharmacy and was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
  26. Good morning, New Jersey!  The Blue Anchor Inn, now the Visitors center for Burlington City, is said to have been the site of an arm-wrestling match between presidential candidate, Abraham Lincoln and future president, Ulysses S. Grant.
  27. Good morning, New Jersey!  Each year, on Christmas Day, witness the turning point of the Revolution.  Re-enactors in Durham boats recreate the Christmas Day crossing of the Delaware River at Washington Crossing.
  28. Good morning, New Jersey!  New Jersey consists of 21 counties and four of those counties border the Atlantic Ocean.  From north to south they are: Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May.
  29. Good morning, New Jersey!  Did you realize you live in a state with mountains, hills, farmlands, pine barrens, cities, rivers, lakes, bays, lagoons, inlets and a very impressive 127 miles of Atlantic Ocean coast line?
  30. Good morning, New Jersey!  Do you know what region you live in?  There are six of them: Skylands, Gateway, Delaware River, Shore, Southern Shore, and Greater Atlantic City.
  31. Good morning, New Jersey!  New Jersey has over 50 resort cities and towns which are some of the most famous in the nation, including Asbury Park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, and Cape May.
  32. Good morning, New Jersey!  The entire town of Cape May is one of only five towns on the National Historic register.  It is very rare that a whole town is registered and this has allowed the town to keep its Victorian charm.
  33. Good morning, New Jersey!  New Jersey is a major seaport state, with the largest port in the country located in Elizabeth.
  34. Good morning, New Jersey!  New Jersey is an industrial state and is the leading chemical producer in the nation.  We have the largest containment of petroleum outside of the Middle East.
  35. Good morning, New Jersey!  We are the only state in which every county is classified as a metropolitan area.
  36. Good morning, New Jersey!  Want to find one of the absolute best views in the state, try High Point, the highest point in the state at 1,803 feet above sea level.
  37. Good morning, New Jersey!  Roughly 40% of New Jerseyans live in the five northeastern counties, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Bergen and Union, which are part of the New York City metropolitan area.  Four of the six biggest cities, Newark, Paterson, Elizabeth, and Jersey City are also there.
  38. Good morning, New Jersey!  Many New Jerseyans who live in the five northeastern counties, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Bergen, and Union, cross the Hudson River everyday to work in New York City.
  39. Good morning, New Jersey!  In south Jersey, many residents from Mercer, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties cross the Delaware River to work in Philadelphia each day.
  40. Good morning, New Jersey!  The majority of New Jerseyans in northern counties watch New York City news and cheer for New York City teams while the majority of southern county residents watch Philadelphia news and cheer for Philadelphia teams.
  41. Good morning, New Jersey!  We are the fourth smallest state at 7,419 square miles.  That makes New Jersey more than five times larger than the smallest state, Rhode Island.
  42. Good morning, New Jersey!  Do you know why New Jersey is called the Garden State?  It’s not a trick question, it is simply because of the very rich and fertile land, perfect for farming.  Some of our most popular crops are Jersey corn, tomatoes, and blueberries.
  43. Good morning, New Jersey!  We may be one of the smallest states, but we have the highest population density in the United States with 1,030 people in every square mile, 13 times higher than the average.
  44. Good morning, New Jersey!  City mice or country mice?  In New Jersey, we’re mostly city mice with 90 percent of our residents living in a city.
  45. Good morning, New Jersey!  New Jersey has the most dense system of highways and railroads in the US.  We have 34,268 miles of highway and roads.
  46. Good morning, New Jersey!  New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is often referred to as the Diner Capital of the world.  It makes sense since we have over 600 diners!
  47. Good morning, New Jersey!  If you like to shop, north Jersey is for you, with 7 major shopping malls within a 25 mile radius.
  48. Good morning, New Jersey!  The Cohansey Aquifilter, located under the Pine Barrens, contains over 17 trillion gallons of fresh water.  That’s enough to cover the entire state with 10 feet of water.
  49. Good morning, New Jersey!  The geographic center of NJ lies in Mercer County, 5 miles southeast of Trenton in Hamilton Township.
  50. Good morning, New Jersey!  Much more than cities and industrial centers, New Jersey has 39 State Parks totaling 67,111 acres and 11 State Forests.
  51. Good morning, New Jersey!  Our major industries are farming, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, petroleum-based products, insurance and tourism.
  52. Good morning, New Jersey!  While Burlington County is the largest by actual size, Bergen County, across the Hudson River from New York City is much smaller, but has the largest population.
  53. Good morning, New Jersey!  New Jersey is home to more than 9,800 farms covering 790,000 acres of farmland. The state is among the leaders in many forms of agricultural production.  We rank: 2nd for blueberry, 3rd for cranberry, 3rd for spinach, 4th for bell peppers, 4th for peach production and 4th for head lettuce.  We also produce an abundance of tomatoes, corn, apples, strawberries, and potatoes.
  54. Good morning, New Jersey!  We are the fifth most active state for movie and television filming with dozens and dozens of Jersey locations used.
  55. Good morning, New Jersey!  We have 699.57 square miles of water with over 100 Rivers and Creeks and over 800 lakes and ponds.
  56. Good morning, New Jersey!   In the Garden State, school is in session at 20 four year colleges, 21 two year colleges, 2 engineering colleges, 1 medical college, 2 dental colleges, and 6 theological colleges.
  57. Good morning, New Jersey!  What do Cape May, Twin Lights, Barengat, Sandy Hook, Sea Girt, Tucker’s Island, Absecon, Hereford Inlet, East Point, Finn’s Point, and Tinicum Rear Range have in common?  They are New Jersey’s 11 amazing lighthouses that guided mariners along the Atlantic Ocean and Intercoastal Waterway for over a hundred years.
  58. Good morning, New Jersey!  Did you know that the black bear is the largest mammal in New Jersey?  It’s true.  And black bears, common in northwestern counties, have been moving south and east.  Surprisingly, they have been spotted in all 21 counties.
  59. Good morning, New Jersey!  Newark, the state’s largest city, is home to the sixth largest Performing Arts Center in the United States.  The NJPAC is home to the Grammy Award-winning New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and the center has attracted over 5 million visitors in its first ten years.
  60. Good morning, New Jersey!  And hold your horses, if you’re wondering if we have a state animal!  The answer is yes and it is… the horse!  And without cars, trucks, or tanks, horses were an important part of the Revolution.
  61. Good morning, New Jersey!  It’s a good thing that the horse is New Jersey’s State Animal…we have more horses, horse farms, and horse breeders than Kentucky!
  62. Good morning, New Jersey!  Tomatoes, the popular Jersey fruit, weren’t always so popular.  Up until the 1800s, American’s refused to eat them, believing they were poisonous and would cause death.  But, in 1820, standing on the steps of the Salem County Courthouse, Colonel R.G. Johnson announced that he would eat a bucket of tomatoes.  His doctor was convinced he would die and many nervous people watching fainted.  You can probably guess the ending!
  63. Good morning, New Jersey!  Did you know that cranberries are a major commercial crop in New Jersey?  We are the third largest cranberry producer in the United States and Bordentown is one of a few towns to have a Cranberry Festival every year.
  64. Good morning, New Jersey!  New Jersey is a birdwatching paradise.  Each year people from all over the world visit the state to witness the mass migration of more than 3 million birds.
  65. Good morning, New Jersey!  While summer tides and winds create sand dunes that protect our beaches, winter storms, called nor’easters, destroy those dunes.  Beach communities are constantly struggling to protect the beaches from harsh winters.
  66. Good morning, New Jersey!  The Batsto River flows through over one million acres of pitch-pine forest.  The Pine Barrens make up 22% of New Jersey’s land area.
  67. Good morning, New Jersey!  If you’ve ever wondered just how farmers worked in the 1800s, the Howell Living History farm won’t tell you, they’ll show you.  Visiting the farm is like taking a trip in a time machine and you won’t see a tractor.  Instead you’ll see New Jersey’s only horse-drawn plowing match.
  68. Good morning, New Jersey!  The Far Hills Race Meeting at Moorland Farms is the most prestigious, most well-attended, and richest steeplechase horserace event in the United States.
  69. Good morning, New Jersey!  If you’ve ever seen the gold dome of the New Jersey State House, you have probably wondered how much that gold cost.  It is actually 48,000 pieces of gold leaf.  Each piece cost $1.00 and was paid for by New Jersey school kids through the Dimes for the Dome program.  To recognize their contribution, the dome stands in honor of Jersey kids.
  70. Good morning, New Jersey!  Tales of a New Jersey author who wrote Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing…that’s right, Judy Blume was born in Elizabeth.
  71. Good morning, New Jersey!  Small state, big basketball player!  And they don’t get much bigger than Shaquille O’Neal who was born in the Garden State…in Newark to be exact!
  72. Good morning, New Jersey!   On June 24, 1976, New York Yankee Derek Jeter was born in Pequannock.  As the captain of the New York Yankees, this future hall of famer’s career has been a great example for kids everywhere.
  73. Good morning, New Jersey!  What do Queen Latifah, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Ice-T have in common besides music?  They were all born in New Jersey!  Queen Latifah and Ice-T both hail from Newark, Bruce Springsteen was born in Freehold, and Jon Bon Jovi was born in Perth Amboy.
  74. Good morning, New Jersey!  After Niagra Falls, the Great Falls of Paterson are the second highest on the east coast and were used to power the manufacturing town once know as Silk City.
  75. Good morning, New Jersey!  A Trenton landmark is the Trenton Makes bridge which spans the Delaware River and connects Trenton with Morrisville, Pennsylvania.  In 1910, the Chamber of Commerce adopted the slogan, Trenton Makes, The World Takes to let the world know Trenton was a manufacturing giant.  Since 1917, with some exceptions, the slogan has lit up the side of the bridge.
  76. Good morning, New Jersey!  As a result of our large population and small size, New Jersey is not only the most dense state in the nation, we have more people per square mile than India and China!
  77. Good morning, New Jersey!  South Jersey has a prosperous glassmaking history that continues today at the Wheaton Arts Center in Millville.  It’s the home of the American Museum of Glass as well as a place to see glass, pottery, and woodcarvings created by real artisans.
  78. Good morning, New Jersey!  There’s nothing like a real cliffhanger, but did you know where the term originated?  In the early 20th century, New Jersey was the center of the silent film industry and the term referred to a series of films shot on the Palisades cliffs.
  79. Good morning, New Jersey!  Charles Lindbergh, who lived in Hopewell for some time, made the first solo, non-stop flight in his plane, The Spirit of St. Louis, across the Atlantic Ocean.  He flew from New York City to Paris, France and was soon named Lucky Lindy by the press.
  80. Good morning, New Jersey!  In 1928, 23 year old Captain Emilio Carranza Rodriguez, known as the Mexican Charles Lindbergh, died in a plane crash over Wharton State Forest.  Today, a stone memorial, erected in 1930, marks the spot.  Each year since the tragedy, a small on-site ceremony is held to honor his sacrifice.
  81. Good morning, New Jersey!  A highlight of the Pine Barrens is Batsto Village, a restored 19th century village in the southern edge of Wharton State Forest.  The village consists of 33 buildings, including a general store, a grist mill, sawmill, workers quarters and a post office that is still in use.  The main attraction, however, is the 32 room mansion, once the home of William Richards, the ironmaster.
  82. Good morning, New Jersey!  Catch a Camden Riversharks ballgame at Campbell’s Field and you’ll see the Campbell’s Soup kids leaning on a can of soup.  As company mascots they paved the way for characters like Snap, Crackle, and Pop and the Pillsbury Dough Boy.  While the factory has moved, Campbell’s Soup still employs 1,200 people at their Camden Headquarters.
  83. Good morning, New Jersey!  Jackson, New Jersey is the home of Six Flag’s Great Adventure Amusement Park, Wild Safari, and Hurricane Harbor Water Park.  The Wild Safari is the largest drive-through safari outside of Africa, with over 1,200 animals.
  84. Good morning, New Jersey!  While we only have 21 counties, we have 566 municipalities, which are towns and cities.
  85. Good morning, New Jersey!  While most people think Washington DC when they hear the words “cherry blossoms”, here’s an interesting fact.  Branch Brook Park in Essex County, the first county park open to the public, is the home of over two thousand cherry trees which blossom each April.  The annual Cherry Blossom Festival attracts over 10,000 people each day.
  86. Good morning, New Jersey!  South Jersey’s largest city, Camden, is a waterfront city and home to the USS New Jersey, America’s most decorated battleship.  Now it is a floating museum and open for tours and events.  With 19 battle and campaign stars, it is something every student should see and appreciate.  You may even know someone who sailed on it!
  87. Good morning, New Jersey!  While the Pinelands are home to some 700,000 people, the area is so large that, unlike North Jersey, you can often drive for miles without seeing another person.
  88. Good morning, New Jersey!  Wharton State Park is not only home to Batsto Village, it is also the home of the Atsion Recreation Area which includes Atsion Lake with swimming between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  The Lake has lifeguards, a concession stand, a bathhouse and canoe and Kayak rentals.
  89. Good morning, New Jersey!  The Skylands region, New Jersey’s northwest corner is home to the state’s highest point, largest lake, and some of the most scenic stretches.
  90. Good morning, New Jersey!  When visiting Newark, you will see signs for the Ironbound District, a vibrant, diverse community and home to the country’s largest Portuguese population, as well as Spaniards and Brazilians.  The name Ironbound comes from the railway tracks that surround the city.
  91. Good morning, New Jersey!  In downtown Trenton, the New Jersey State House is the second oldest operating state house in the country, after Annapolis, Maryland.
  92. Good morning, New Jersey!  The Pinelands best known hiking trail is the 50 mile Batona Trail, which starts at Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, winds through Wharton State Forest, and ends in Bass River State Forest.
  93. Good morning, New Jersey!  Freehold Borough was the Bicycling Capital of the World in the late 19th century due to the large number of bicycles produced there.
  94. Good morning, New Jersey!  Princeton is home to two Official Governor’s residences.  Morven, which served as the Governor’s mansion from 1953 -1981 is now a museum while Drumthwacket has only served as a full-time residence for three Governors since 1982.  Others have used it as a part-time residence.  Charles Smith Olden built the mansion in 1835 and was the first Governor to live there.
  95. Good morning, New Jersey!  Did you know that central Jersey is not only home to Ivy League Princeton University and the state school, Rutgers University, it was also the home to Physicist Albert Einstein and inventor Thomas Edison?
  96. Good morning, New Jersey!  Bay Head, nicknamed The New England  of the Jersey Shore, has weathered wood shingled homes and a charming main street resembling a New England sea town.
  97. Good morning, New Jersey!  New Jersey’s first three-story shopping mall is Bridgewater Commons with over 170 shops, restaurants, a movie theater, and a modern outdoor village.
  98. Good morning, New Jersey!  Just outside the Delaware Water Gap is Blairstown, the backdrop for the original Friday the 13th movie.
  99. Good morning, New Jersey!  The Roebling Village was actually a company town designed for the company’s employees and their families.  Workers for the famed wire rope company rented their houses and they even had their own school.
  100. Good morning, New Jersey!  Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, created Paterson as the first planned industrial city in the United States in 1791, using the waters of its Great Falls for manufacturing.
  101. Good morning, New Jersey!  For those not living in Bergen County, you may wonder what their Blue Law is.  Basically, you can only buy food and medicine on Sundays in Bergen County, as other stores are not open!
  102. Good morning, New Jersey!  The Rancocas State Park is 1,252 acres of Woodland and it offers a nature center, Indian Reservation, and museum.
  103. Good morning, New Jersey!  Burlington City’s motto, Don’t Give Up The Ship, came from city-born Captain James Lawrence.  As a naval war hero, his dying words to his crew were, “Tell the men to fire faster and not to give up the ship.”  It also became the United States Navy’s motto.
  104. Good morning, New Jersey! Did you know that the first organized baseball game was played in NJ? On June 19, 1846, the New York Knickerbockers and the New York Nine squared off right here at Elysian Fields in Hoboken.
  105. Good morning, New Jersey!  Have you seen any good movies lately?  Did you know the first movie was developed by Thomas Edison in West Orange in 1889.  Edison’s earliest surviving motion picture is a short film made in 1894 and referred to as “Fred Ott’s Sneeze.” It is one of the world’s earliest motion pictures. The star is Fred Ott, one of Edison’s employees known to his fellow workers for his comic sneezing and other gags.
  106. Good morning, New Jersey!  Ask your parents and teachers about Drive-In movies.  The first drive-in theater was built on a 10 acre piece of land in Camden County in 1933.  Now, we are 1 of only 4 states without a Drive-In.
  107. Good morning, New Jersey!  Did you know that the first National Historic Park in America was established in Morristown in 1933.  It includes the Ford Mansion, Fort Nonsense, and Jockey Hollow, the 1,200 acres where 10,000 Continental soldiers spent two winters.
  108. Good morning, New Jersey!  Once upon a time parents didn’t remind children to turn off the lights.  That’s because they didn’t have them.  It wasn’t until 1879 when Thomas Edison made the first light bulb in Menlo Park.
  109. Good morning, New Jersey!  The first seashore resorts in the US opened in Cape May and Long Branch in the 1800’s.
  110. Good morning, New Jersey!  While many of you may have spent some time at the beach this summer, you may not know that the very first boardwalk in the world was built in Atlantic City in 1870 and it is six miles long.
  111. Good morning, New Jersey!  Atlantic City is the home to the first Miss America pagent in 1921 and was home to the pagent for 85 years.
  112. Good morning, New Jersey!  In 1762, the first drive through window was established at the Seven Stars Tavern in Salem County.
  113. Good morning, New Jersey!  New Jersey’s first traffic circle was unveiled in Camden County in 1925.  By 1955, only 30 of the original 67 circles were still around.
  114. Good morning, New Jersey!  The very first ferry service in the US started in NJ in 1811 and operated between Hoboken and Manhattan and is still an important means of crossing the Hudson River.
  115. Good morning, New Jersey!  The first phonograph, a device for recording and replaying sound, was invented by Thomas Alva Edison in Menlo Park in 1877.   Think of him next time you download your favorite songs.
  116. Good morning, New Jersey!  The first balloon flight in America was made by Jean-Pierre Blanchard. On January 9, 1793, he landed a balloon at Deptford carrying a letter from George Washington.
  117. Good morning, New Jersey!  The first submarine was built in 1878 by John Holland of Passaic County. The submarine is now in a public museum in Paterson.
  118. Good morning, New Jersey! Mmm, Mmm good.  The first condensed soup in America was cooked and canned at Campbell’s Soup, in Camden County in 1897.  The first five flavors were tomato, consommé, chicken, vegetable, and oxtail.
  119. Good morning, New Jersey!  The first robot to replace a human worker was used by General Motors in Ewing Township in 1961.  The Unimate worked side by side with the workers for ten years and is now on display at the Smithsonian Institute.
  120. Good morning, New Jersey!  The first saltwater taffy was produced at the Jersey shore in the 1870s.  Around 1900, a Taffy War broke out in Atlantic City between two of the largest taffy makers, Joseph Fralinger and Enoch James.
  121. Good morning, New Jersey!  In Stockton you will find the state’s oldest established three room schoolhouse that is still in operation today.  It was built in 1872 and has grown over the years.
  122. Good morning, New Jersey!  The first intercollegiate football game was played by Rutgers and Princeton in New Brunswick on November 6, 1869. Rutgers won 6 to 4.
  123. Good morning, New Jersey!  Roselle was the first town to be lighted by Thomas Edison’s incandescent light bulb in 1883 from a single generating station.  The experiment sent power through overhead wires to one store, one railroad station, forty houses, and 150 street lights.
  124. Good morning, New Jersey!  The first radio broadcast of the World Series was transmitted live on radio station WIZ in Newark in 1921.
  125. Good morning, New Jersey!  The first airplane passenger flight flew from New York to Atlantic City on May 3, 1919.
  126. Good morning, New Jersey!  The first steam locomotive to actually pull a train on a track was built by John Stevens of Hoboken in 1824.
  127. Good morning, New Jersey!  The first trolleys in New Jersey ran in Asbury Park in 1877.
  128. Good morning, New Jersey!  It’s believed that the first white man to see the Jersey shore was the Italian explorer, Giovanni da Verrazano, as he sailed up the coast in 1524.  You may have heard of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, connecting Staten Island and Brooklyn, which is named in his honor.
  129. Good morning, New Jersey!  Do you love to listen to the radio?  The first FM radio station was broadcast out of Alpine on a transmitter built by Edwin Howard Armstrong.  When the radio towers on top of the World Trade Center were destroyed on 9/11, it was the Alpine Tower that carried television stations for New Yorkers for over a year.
  130. Good morning, New Jersey!  On November 7, 1896 the first known professional basketball game was played in Trenton between the Trenton YMCA and the Brooklyn YMCA. The game was played at the Trenton Masonic Temple, and an admission fee was even charged. Each player got $15 dollars except Fred Cooper who got $16 dollars, and became the game’s first highest paid player. Trenton defeated Brooklyn 15-1.
  131. Good morning, New Jersey!  The Jersey Shore was a playground to the rich and famous, including many US presidents who could often be found summering in Long Branch.  They include: Grant, Garfield, Harrison, McKinley, Arthur, and Wilson.
  132. Good morning, New Jersey!  The only native New Jerseyan to be elected US President is Grover Cleveland who was born at 207 Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell in 1837.  He is also the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms.  You can visit his house and even see his cradle.
  133. Good morning, New Jersey!  While President Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia, he also served as the Governor of New Jersey and the President of Princeton University.  That’s some resume!
  134. Good morning, New Jersey!  Vice President Garrett Hobart served under President McKinley and was born in Long Branch.  He died after two years and was not replaced until President McKinley won a second term.  Theodore Roosevelt became the next Vice President.
  135. Good Morning, New Jersey! Two Vice Presidents were born in the Garden State, the first, Aaron Burr who served under Thomas Jefferson and was the second president of Princeton University. The second, Garrett Hobart, served under William McKinley.
  136. Good morning, New Jersey!  The street names on a Monopoly board are taken from the real streets of Atlantic City.  In 1970, Atlantic City erected a statue of the inventor, Charles Darrow at Boardwalk and Park Place.
  137. Good morning, New Jersey!  Although the Borough of Ship Bottom was incorporated in 1925, the name dates back to a shipwreck that occurred in March 1817, when Captain Stephen Willets of Tuckerton rescued a young woman from the hull of a ship overturned in the shoals. The rescue became known as “Ship Bottom.”
  138. Good morning, New Jersey!  One of the country’s worst marine disasters occurred off the Asbury Park beach when the Morro Castle, a cruise ship, burned under mysterious circumstances in 1934.
  139. Good morning, New Jersey!  For over 25 years, every Thursday at 9:30 am sharp, some of NJ’s fiercest golf competitors compete in a tournament at the famous Bill Burr’s Flamingo Golf in Ship Bottom on Long Beach Island.  For over 50 years, families have enjoyed this mini golf treasure.
  140. Good morning, New Jersey!  If you like a lot of beach with your beach, then head to Wildwood Crest.  At some points the beach is over 1,000 feet wide, making it one of the widest beaches in the world.
  141. Good morning, New Jersey!  Now you see them, now you don’t.  If you’re at the beach at sunrise, you may be able to spot the sandy colored ghost crab.  But be prepared, they can run at speeds of up to 10 miles per hour.
  142. Good morning, New Jersey!  Looking for New Jersey’s most distinctive piece of architecture?  Then head to Margate on the Atlantic Ocean and find Lucy the Elephant.  Lucy is a national historic landmark as well as one of the most interesting tours you’ll ever take…unless you know of another 65 foot tall elephant that once served as a house!
  143. Good morning, New Jersey!  Where would you be if you heard, “Watch the tram car, please!”?  You’d be in Wildwood, of course.  Electric tram cars have transported summer tourists down the three mile wooden boardwalk for over fifty years.
  144. Good morning, New Jersey!  If you have ever wondered how many people visit Atlantic City each year, here’s an interesting fact.  While less than 40,000 residents live in the seaside town, they receive over 37 million visitors each year!  And the casino employees outnumber actual residents.
  145. Good morning, New Jersey!  Just north of Atlantic City, in Brigantine, was the famous Brigantine Castle, a famous haunted walk-through dark ride.  It scared visitors through the 1970s and 1980s.  It had already been closed down for a few years when it eventually burned down.
  146. Good morning, New Jersey!  The Tuckerton Seaport Village is a living history village and one of the only ones in New Jersey dedicated to maritime culture.  It includes docks, decoy carvers, boat builders and a lighthouse.
  147. Good morning, New Jersey!  The Sea Girt Lighthouse was built in 1896 to bridge a 40 mile gap between the Twin Lights of Navesink and the Barnegat Lighthouse and was the last live-in lighthouse built along the Atlantic Coast.
  148. Good morning, New Jersey!  Reaching Delaware from the Jersey shore is easy if you take the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.  The beautiful new terminal has mini-golf, a gift shop, restaurant, and outdoor seating.  And you can park your car or bring it on the ferry.  It’s great for transportation or for a relaxing boat ride and some sightseeing in Delaware.
  149. Good morning, New Jersey!  In 1927, the 8,557 foot Holland Tunnel opened and at the time, was the longest in the world.  It was constructed to relieve the burden of ferries that carried 30 million cars and trucks across the Hudson River every year.  It connects Jersey City with Lower Manhattan.
  150. Good morning, New Jersey!  The famous poet, Walt Whitman was one of Camden’s most beloved residents.  He spent his final 18 years living in a two story home on Mickle Boulevard where he wrote the epic poem, Leaves of Grass.  The house is now a museum.
  151. Good morning, New Jersey!  Camden, New Jersey is the home of the Adventure Aquarium.  Celebrating five exciting years, above and under the water, visitors experience Stingray Beach, Touch a Shark, and a 4D Theater in addition to many other exciting exhibits.
  152. Good morning, New Jersey!  Each year, the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians host an annual Powwow that is open to the public and a great way to learn about New Jersey’s first inhabitants.  Held at the Salem County Fairgrounds each June, it’s a chance to see the dances, arts and crafts of the Lenni Lenape tribes.
  153. Good morning, New Jersey!  When you visit LBI, stop by and see Old Barney, that is, the Barnegat Lighthouse.  Built in 1859, it was once used to guide mariners.  Now, used as a museum, visitors can climb the 165 feet to the top and enjoy amazing views.
  154. Good morning, New Jersey!  The tallest lighthouse in New Jersey is the Absecon Lighthouse, often referred to as Abby.  At 171 feet tall, she is not only New Jersey’s tallest, she is the third tallest in the United States.  Tour the keepers house and the then climb to the top.
  155. Good morning, New Jersey!  The next time someone tells you to “go fly a kite”, make sure you head to the beaches of Wildwood for the International Kite Festival.  They come from all over Jersey, Pennsylvania, and any other place where they love to fly kites…even as far as Japan.
  156. Good morning, New Jersey!  Every summer, Readington is the site of the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning and more than 125 hot air balloons take flight.
  157. Good morning, New Jersey!  Each September, Mercer County Park plays host to the Annual Dragon Boat Races, with each boat having the head and tail of a dragon, attracting the top northeastern teams from the United States and Canada.
  158. Good morning, New Jersey!  Located in rural Salem County, the Cowtown Rodeo has been the site of this old Western tradition for over 55 years and is a highlight on the rodeo circuit.
  159. Good morning, New Jersey!   The Burlington County Fair has showcased New Jersey’s agricultural heritage while entertaining families for over 60 years.  Great food, exciting rides, and a blueberry pie eating contest make this a favorite spot for New Jersey kids.
  160. Good morning, New Jersey!  Sunset Beach in Cape May Point State Park is the only beach in New Jersey where the sun both rises and sets over the Atlantic Ocean.  It is also the only beach in the world where you can find Cape May Diamonds.  These little bits of quartz sparkle like diamonds when polished.
  161. Good morning, New Jersey!  Liberty State Park was created in 1976 for the U.S. Bicentennial and is one of the region’s most popular recreation spots.  Stroll the 2 mile Liberty Walk waterfront path or take a ferry to Ellis Island.  Don’t forget to visit the Liberty Science Center and Imax theater.
  162. Good morning, New Jersey!  Believe it or not, Atlantic City’s Boardwalk is the home to the year round attraction, Ripley’s Believe It or Not.  If you are interested in the odd and unusual, you won’t want to miss it.
  163. Good morning, New Jersey!  No need to dodge the tram cars on Atlantic City’s boardwalk, but if you stroll too far in one direction you can catch a rolling chair back to where you started.  The wicker rolling chairs have been transporting tourists along the boards for over 100 years.
  164. Good morning, New Jersey!  Whoever said the best things in life are free definitely visited the Cape May County Zoo.  It’s free and it’s fantastic.  From wild animals to birds, from giraffes to zebras, you won’t believe it’s free!
  165. Good morning, New Jersey!  Hillsborough is the home to the 2,700 acre Duke Farms and Gardens with 9 lakes, 45 buildings, 2 ½ miles of stone walls and 45 fountains, beginning in 1893.  The estate also includes biking and walking trails and tours are available with a reservation.
  166. Good morning, New Jersey!  Cooling off on a hot summer day in New Jersey is easy.  Besides 127 miles of coastline and many fresh water lakes, we have several water parks.  They include Sahara Sam’s, Coco Key, Hurricane Harbor, Splash Zone, Mountain Creek, Keansburg Runaway Rapids, Breakwater Beach, Crystal Springs, Raging Waters, Ocean Oasis, Splash World, Thundering Surf, Gillian’s Island, and Splish Splash.  Now, that’s refreshing!
  167. Good morning, New Jersey!  Lake Lenape in Mays Landing is a fantastic place to swim, Kayak, scuba dive, and boat.  The launching facilities have sandy beaches and they are free.  They even have play areas for kids.
  168. Good morning, New Jersey!  The 17 room, 1892 Kuser Mansion is located on 22 acres in Hamilton Township, Mercer County.  Built as the summer home for Fred Kuser and his family, tours offer a glimpse into their life.  The family founded Prudential Life Insurance and 20th Century Fox and tours include their private projection room.
  169. Good morning, New Jersey!  Cape May is the home to Historic Cold Spring Village, a living history museum.  A re-created 19th century outdoor museum with 25 restored buildings, costumed interpreters demonstrate traditional crafts like bookbinding, weaving, and basket-making.
  170. Good morning, New Jersey!  Not far from Atlantic City is the historic town of Smithville, a collection of restored historic structures from all over south Jersey.  It features a variety of stores centered around a lake and boardwalk, with a mini-train, carousel, paddleboats, great food and a historic Inn.
  171. Good morning, New Jersey!  Wall Township’s Historic Allaire Village is home to numerous historic structures, including a gristmill bakery, blacksmith and carpenter’s shops, a blast furnace and a working bakery with a beehive oven.  During the summer, costumed interpreters even provide demonstrations and there’s a visitor center and museum in one of the property’s old row homes.
  172. Good morning, New Jersey!  Looking for the largest light bulb in the world?  Head to Thomas Edison’s Memorial Museum and Tower in Menlo Park.  Currently being renovated, the 131 foot tower, dedicated seven years after his death, is topped with a 13 ½ foot light bulb.
  173. Good morning, New Jersey!  The New Jersey State Museum has several floors of state history, from pre-historic to native American to present day.  The newly renovated Planetarium has shows for visitors of all ages, even one with Sesame Street characters explaining the night sky.
  174. Good morning, New Jersey!  The Grounds For Sculpture was created in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, by J. Steward Johnson, art collector, sculptor, and heir to the Johnson and Johnson fortune.  While most of the 200 sculptures are housed outside, there are two spacious hall, a café, gift shop, an outdoor amphitheater and a restaurant.  One of the sculptures is of a garden party which includes a sculpture of himself.
  175. Good morning, New Jersey!  Red Badge of Courage author, Stephen Crane was born in Newark but moved to Asbury Park in 1880 after his father died.  The home where he wrote his first short story, at 508 4th Avenue, is now a museum.
  176. Good morning, New Jersey!  Jenny Jump State Forest, just outside Hope Village, is home to the Greenwood Observatory, one of the few remaining dark sky locations.  They host free Saturday evening programs for the public with a 16 inch Newtonian telescope and retractable roof.
  177. Good morning, New Jersey!  Parsippany has been named Tree City USA for 24 years straight.
  178. Good morning, New Jersey!  The New Jersey turnpike opened in 1951 and is 148 miles long.  It was the first toll road in New Jersey and the third in the nation.
  179. Good morning, New Jersey!  The Garden State Parkway opened in 1974, is 172 miles long, and passes through 10 of our 21 counties from Cape May to the New York state line.  Believe it or not, the Parkway even has its own Fan Club.