About this city
Also known as: The Birthplace of Kool-Aid
Nestled in south-central Nebraska's flat and highly fertile agricultural plains, Hastings serves as the historic county seat of Adams County. Incorporated in 1874 at the vital intersection of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad and the St. Joseph and Denver City Railroad, the city developed rapidly as a wealthy commercial center for grain shipping. Hastings holds an iconic, eternal place in global consumer culture history as the birthplace of Kool-Aid, formulated here in 1927 by chemist Edwin Perkins. During World War II, the town industrialized massively around the world's largest naval ammunition depot, which heavily supplied the Allied frontlines. Today, Hastings coordinates its rich industrial heritage with a thriving collegiate atmosphere, anchoring Hastings College, while maintaining a stunning historic brick downtown.
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Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 1 day
Explore the historic original formulation laboratories and a colossal collection of Kool-Aid memorabilia at the Hastings Museum. Peer inside an authentic World War II naval ammunition bunker and view pioneer history exhibits. Stroll through the charming, vintage brick storefronts downtown.