New Jersey isn’t just a hub of culture and industry – it’s played a key role in the defense of this country as well. New Jersey military history is rich and exciting, but there’s one chapter that only the most well-read naval buffs know about. That’s the key role New Jersey played in launching the era of modern naval warfare! The very first submarine took its first test run right here in the Passaic River, and while it looked a lot different than the powerful nuclear machines that prowl the world today, it’s likely that none of this would have happened if it wasn’t for the small device that began it all.

The Passaic River is a busy body of water today - but in the late 1800s, it was carrying a completely different form of traffic.
Lithium6Ion/Wikipedia
It was all thanks to engineer John Philip Holland, an Irish immigrant who played a key role in developing the first submarine ever commissioned by the US Navy.
Brown Bros/Wikipedia
It was named the Holland I, a prototype that was 14 feet long and weighed over two tons. It was designed to be operated by Holland himsef.
Public Domain/Wikipedia

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The tests only submerged it 12 feet below the surface, but it was a game of trial and error - and Holland kept creating new designs. The first test was on May 17th, 1897 - and progress came fast after that.
US Navy/Wikipedia
The Passaic River wasn't the only key location in New Jersey in Naval history - many early submarines were built at the Elizabeth shipyards.
Public Domain/Wikipedia
The original Holland I prototype has been preserved and is on display at the Paterson Museum for history buffs.
Tomwsulcer/Wikipedia
As for the submarine, it caught on with the Navy - and played a key role in every war since, with today's submarines bearing little resemblance to Holland's tiny underwater boats!
US Navy/Wikipedia

Did you know about this unique chapter in New Jersey military history? Let us know your favorite New Jersey firsts in the comments section. If you’d like to see this unique submarine prototype for yourself, you can visit the official website of the Paterson Museum. For another unique first in New Jersey history, make sure to take a hike down the world’s first and longest boardwalk.

 

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