Seems like jQuery UI got rid of maintaining state with the latest implementation.

Before, it pretty simple to keep state across page loads with jQuery tabs. This is one possible way to do it with the new code.  Its still pretty easy, just a little different.

$("#tabs").tabs({ 
    activate: function (e, ui) { 
        $.cookie('selected-tab', ui.newTab.index(), { path: '/' }); 
    }, 
    active: $.cookie('selected-tab')             
});