Made in Jersey: Five Inventions That Changed The World

BY WILLIAM THOMPSON

NJ REALTORS® DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY

New Jersey has more to offer the world than just beaches and boardwalks—although, for the record, we invented the boardwalk too. The Garden State has played a key role in shaping how we live, work, and conduct business. From Edison’s workshop in Menlo Park to Bell Labs in Murray Hill, some of the most transformative inventions of modern history have Jersey roots.

LIGHT BULBS – 1879, MENLO PARK

The simple light bulb is such an integral part of our society, it’s hard to imagine a world without electric light. That is, until 1879, when Thomas Edison successfully tested the first commercially viable light bulb in Menlo Park, New Jersey. His breakthrough didn’t just extend the workday—which we may never forgive him for—it changed how homes were built and how people lived in them. Electricity became standard in new construction, and soon after, lighting became a shining feature of every home. Today, lighting remains an important element when staging and showing a home. Whether recessed, designer fixtures, or smart lights, buyers notice. And while Edison may not have been thinking about a kitchen’s ambiance, his invention laid the foundation.

TRANSISTOR – 1947, MURRAY HILL

While it may not look like much, and you might not realize how much you rely on it, the transistor is widely considered one of the most important inventions of the 20th century. First demonstrated at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey, the transistor acts as a tiny electronic switch, controlling the flow of electricity in a circuit. That small function has a huge innovative impact, replacing bulky vacuum tubes and becoming the building block for all modern electronics. From computers to cars, without transistors, our tech-driven, mobile lifestyle simply wouldn’t exist.

COLOR TELEVISION –1954, CAMDEN

When RCA’s research center in Camden, New Jersey introduced the first commercial color television broadcast in 1954, it didn’t just change how we watched TV– it changed how we lived. Color TV brought living rooms to life and quickly became a centerpiece of the modern home, evolving layouts to accommodate the screen as the primary focal point. Decor shifted around entertainment, and soon after, so did expectations with television becoming a standard installation in homes across the country. While we’ve come a long way from rabbit ears and dial knobs, it all started right here in New Jersey.

BUBBLE WRAP – 1957, HAWTHORNE

In 1957, two engineers working out of their garage in Hawthorne, New Jersey, set out to invent textured wallpaper. What they came up with instead was Bubble Wrap. It didn’t catch on as home décor (thankfully!), but it found its place in the world as the go-to packing material for fragile items. Simple in design yet infinitely practical, Bubble Wrap became one of the most recognizable, and oddly satisfying, inventions of the last century, even earning its own holiday, National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, celebrated on the last Monday in January.

CELL PHONE –1947, MURRAY HILL

Before smartphones became our calendars, cameras, and livelihoods, the foundation for cellular technology was laid right here in New Jersey. In 1947, engineers at Bell Labs proposed a revolutionary idea: divide service areas into “cells,” each with its own tower, so radio frequencies could be reused without interference. This concept made it possible to move from corded kitchen wall phone to the handheld device we rely on today. Without it, the first truly mobile call in 1973 wouldn’t have been possible—when a Motorola engineer famously called his rival at Bell Labs to let him know who got there first. Our cell phones aren’t just a convenience, they’re integral to how we live and do business.