… that if you count the steps leading up to the entrance of the capitol building, you’ll find out in what order Washington joined the union?

That’s right – but the secret is counting the steps correctly.  Start at ground zero and count each step. Just make sure you don’t count the landings and remember that the last step into the building is at the front door.  If you count properly, you should get to 42 steps. 

In 1889, Washington State became the 42nd state to join the union, and architects Wilder and White purposely designed the entrance to our grand capitol with that in mind.