Why do our kids have to memorize the state capitals? How many adults have truly found an important use for it?

Most adults I know have forgotten a lot of the names of the state capitals, because none of us has really had a use for this info in the real world. I can understand the need to know the states and the general area of where they are located, but having to memorize the capitals seems like a useless activity to say the least. Have any of you found a good reason to require our children to memorize this info; any profound and important use that you have put it to in your daily life?