10. Disco Fries
This is a hockey blog, so we have to honor New Jersey's invention that pays tribute to a Canadian delicacy. Disco fries are a New Jersey diner staple, pairing brown gravy and french fries with cheese. Originally, it was made with mozzarella cheese, but it can be paired with different types of cheese, and some even pair it with cheese whiz. It's a version of poutine that we'd argue is a supreme version. They were invented in the 1940s at the "Tick Tock Diner" in Clifton and got their name for their affinity of people who have left disco clubs looking for quick nourishment.
9. M&Ms
Sticking in the food category, there are so many great candies that were created in New Jersey. However, the most famous is M&Ms, which first went into production in the Clinton Hill area of Newark in 1941. The candy at the time showcased an important relationship in the history of candy, as the Ms stand for Mars (one of the most popular candy brands in history) and Murrie (then president of Hershey's chocolate). The concept came from European candy-coated chocolate Smarties, but an agreement across borders is why only one of those is available in the U.S.
8. Monopoly
From one of the greatest candies in history to possibly the greatest board game ever. Monopoly has been sold in multiple variations over 275 million times worldwide. Billions of people have played the game and learned the streets of Atlantic City without even realizing it. Monopoly is actually a version of the Landlord's Game, which Parker Brother's bought the patent from in the 1930s to avoid any legal issues with the game.
7. George Washington’s Legacy
There were hundreds of moments that created the legacy of America's first president George Washington. From chopping down a cherry tree to his face on the dollar bill, Washington is arguably the most important person in this country's history. And his most pivitol moment started in New Jersey. General George Washington established two winter encampments during the Revolutionary War in Morristown. He actually spent more time in Jersey during the War than any other state. It's location between New York and Philadelphia became a strategic advantage. However, the most famous moment in the war was the "Crossing of the Delaware River." On Christmas Day, 1776, Washington surprised British soldiers after taking his men on the dangerous mission across the river, beating them in Trenton. This was a huge change in momentum for the war, which led to an American victory.
6. Beloved
Toni Morrison is one of recent history's greatest novelists. She has multiple best sellers, but there is one that stands above the rest. Her 1987 book Beloved tells the story of a dysfunctional family of formerly enslaved people whose home is haunted. While the book is based in Cincinnati, Ohio, it's safe to assume that large parts of the book was written while Morrison lived in New Jersey. It ended up winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.