How to Memorize the State Capitals

Co-authored by Caitlin Jaymes

Last Updated: October 18, 2024 Fact Checked

Memorizing all 50 states and their capitals is a North American geography basic. Maybe you're a student whose teacher just assigned a quiz, or a caring parent who is trying to help your student or simply refresh your own memory; either way, it seems like a daunting task. Have no fear! No matter what your learning style, by putting forth a little time and effort you have lots of options to help you accomplish your goal.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Visualizing the Information

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1
Make a list to easily see the name of the state and its matching capital. Use different colors or writing styles to make it more interesting. Try listing as many as you can on your own before referring to a map. Study your completed list often.
- If actually writing the words is helpful to you, try recreating your list in a variety of ways. For example: from memory, write the listing alphabetically, reverse-alphabetical order, by region, etc.
- This doesn't have to be done in a traditional listing format. You could try writing the names inside of circles or squares, or sporadically on the paper. The point is just to pay close attention to what you are writing to help you remember.
2
Practice with flashcards so you can study anywhere. Go through a set of flashcards containing the names of states and their capitals. Read or say out loud the name of the state written on the top card, then without looking at the back of the card, say the name of the capital. Turn the card over to see if you were correct!^{[1]
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- Do this multiple times until you can go through the entire stack without getting any wrong.
- Be sure to shuffle the cards around each time before going through the stack.
- Change it up sometimes by saying the capital first, then flipping the card to see the name of the state. This has helped many people who have tried to memorize their states and capitals.
- If you are unable to purchase a set of flashcards, you can make your own. Simply use index cards or plain paper cut into smaller pieces. Write the name of the state on one side of the flashcards, and the capital on the backside. (Writing the information also adds a little extra practice!)
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Using a poster, book, or even an online image, study the map closely. Pay attention to the location while saying the name of the state and capital out loud. Noting regions and/or surrounding states can help provide additional clues.
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Use word association to give you a mental image to refer to. This technique requires you to create and remember a relationship using two unrelated items. To practice this, you will need to say the name of the state and/or capital, and then think of another word or image that naturally comes to mind.
- For example, to remember Dover, Delaware you might imagine this: What did Della wear? She wore doe fur. Della + wear = Delaware. Doe + fur = Dover.
- The book, The Little Man in the Map Teaches the State Capitals written by E. Andrew Martonyi is full of ideas based on this concept.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Engaging in Hands-On Activities

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1
Play catch to stay active while stimulating brain activity. Have a partner pitch or roll you a ball while saying the name of a state, then you say the name of the capital as you pitch or roll the ball back. Continue the play until you get through all 50 states.
- If you don’t have a partner to play with, try tossing the ball back and forth from your right hand to your left hand while saying the names aloud.
- Make it more challenging by using a red ball for the state, and a blue ball for the capital, and saying the name of whichever ball is thrown to you first. (Any colors will work if you don't have red and blue.)
2
Do a puzzle for a hands-on activity to help with geographical location. This can be a plastic or wooden toy, or done online through an educational website. Say the name of the state and the capital as you put the puzzle piece in place.
- Look at the puzzle piece upside down and try to guess the capital and state based on the shape. This will add a fun variation and extra practice.
- Puzzles stimulate brain activity and can help you better remember the location of the states.^{[2]
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Play a game for a fun alternative that doesn’t feel like learning. Purchase a store-bought game, use an educational website to play online, or recreate your own version.^{[3]
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US Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. government agency that collects and reports labor-related information

Go to source} Multiple choice, Bingo, and matching games are all great choices.
- Multiple choice and matching games can be played alone or with others.
- Bingo is an engaging pick if you have a group of people!
- Playing a game is a great option for those who have shorter attention spans or don't find typical learning strategies useful.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Sound to Boost Memory

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1
Listen to a song when you are on the go or multitasking. Repetition is key, so find a song about state capitals on youtube or an educational website and listen to it multiple times. Try this out while you are in the car or cleaning the house.
- For a fun, upbeat song, try “The 50 States and Capitals Song” by Silly School Songs.^{[4]
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- A good rhythm and rhyme scheme helps to stimulate the brain and improve retention, so choose one that sounds good to you.^{[5]
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  Association for Psychological Science
  Nonprofit organization devoted promoting trustworthy research and education in the psychological sciences
  
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- Listening to a song is a great option even for those who typically have different learning styles. Since most people enjoy music and have experienced a time when a song has “got stuck in their head,” this can be a helpful tool in helping you memorize the state capitals.
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Sing a song out loud to enhance your learning even more. Listen to a variety of songs to find one that you can sing along to. Singing music lyrics adds another dimension to memorization and retention. It makes it easier for you to recall the content you learned for months and even years after learning.^{[6]
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- “Wakko’s America” from the children’s show Animaniacs is a popular choice that has been around for years.^{[7]
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- For something more modern that's also super engaging, try listening to or watching "Tour the States."^{[8]
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3
Try alliteration to make ordinary facts less boring and more memorable. Alliteration is simply a repeating letter or sound, and proves to be helpful for both children and adults.^{[9]
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Research source} “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” is a widely known example of alliteration.
- Used to memorize capitals of states, it may look like, “Bold Boise, Idaho” or “Silly Salem, Oregon.”

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Ask for help! Sometimes working with a partner or taking turns quizzing each other can be extra helpful. They might even have other ideas for you to try.

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Don't be discouraged if you don't get all of the capitals memorized right away. This is a large task and will take time and patience. The important thing is to keep practicing!

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