Kansas Trivia (Blog)

Oddities and Coincidences - September 4, 2015

By KPR Staff

Published September 4, 2015 at 5:00 AM CDT

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The tour’s 296 steps to the top of the dome include a series of straight, steep, narrow, spiral, and irregularly spaced landings and stairs. (Flickr Photo by M. Stewart)

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It takes 296 steps to reach the top of the dome at the Kansas Statehouse. (Flickr Photo by Mike Linksvayer)

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Here's KPR's own Statehouse Reporter, Stephen Koranda, on the Statehouse dome tour in 2009. (Photo by Wendy Huggins)

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A recent photo of KPR's Statehouse Reporter, Stephen Koranda, outside the newly-remodeled Kansas Statehouse. (Photo by J. Schafer)

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Q: The telephone prefix for many state government agencies and departments in Topeka is 296. Coincidentally, 296 is also the exact same number of steps it takes to reach something else in Topeka. What is it?

A: The top of the Kansas Statehouse dome

It takes 296 steps to reach the top of the dome at the Kansas Statehouse. Coincidentally, in order to reach many state agencies and offices in Topeka by telephone, you’ll also need to know that number because 296 is the most common prefix for state government telephone numbers in the capital city. We are not sure why this is but we suppose that’s why the word “coincidence” was invented. You know what else is kind of cool? “Prefix 296” rhymes. Incidentally, the telephone number for Kansas Public Radio’s Statehouse Bureau in Topeka has a 296 prefix as well. To reach our state government reporter, Stephen Koranda, in the office, you’ll need to call (785) 296-3817.

Want to tour the Kansas Statehouse dome yourself? Free tours are available. CLICK HERE for more details.