Explore the Hastings Museum and the Birthplace of Kool-Aid

Did you know that Kool-Aid (the powder you use to make the delicious sugary drink) was invented in Hastings, Nebraska? You can learn all about the history of Kool-Aid, along with board games, video games, wildlife, guns, living on the frontiers of America and much more at the Hastings Museum.

The Hastings Museum is a great place for kids and adults to explore. There are many exhibits where kids can interact and learn. The adults can reminisce about their Kool-Aid stands from when they were kids. There’s also a planetarium and theater, so there are lots of options on things to do.

Here’s a rundown on what you’ll find at the Hastings Museum so you can plan your visit.

Tickets and Directions to the Hastings Museum

There’s no need to purchase tickets online in advance of your visit. In fact, it’s not even an option on their website – not even for the films. So all tickets will need to be purchased at the museum when you arrive. The info desk is right inside the main entrance, located on the southeast side of the museum.

There’s also a museum store you’ll want to check out before you leave.

The Hastings Museum is located on the northern end of the city and right off the main road through town. There is plenty of parking on the south and east side of the museum, and best of all, it’s free. If you decide to ride your bike to the Hastings Museum, they do have bike racks just south of the museum’s entrance.

Natural History of Nebraska: Rocks and Wildlife

Our roadtrip through the Midwest was my first time exploring Nebraska. That means I wasn’t familiar with much of the history, wildlife, geology, etc. The Hastings Museum provided some background on the natural history of the state.

One area focuses on a time when water covered the region. There are fossils of sea creatures found in the Nebraska geography. In addition to having animals and creatures on display, there are drawers you can pull out to see even more.

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Moving down the hallway to more current times, you’ll see the birds and other creatures that even now call Nebraska home. I enjoyed seeing such a variety of animals from a state that I was pretty unfamiliar with.

Beyond wildlife, there’s also an opportunity to look at rocks. It’s more interesting than it sounds. There are so many rocks on display, showing different colors, sizes, textures and more.

Don’t Miss Engaging Temporary Exhibits

Occasionally, the Hasting Museum will host temporary exhibits. During our visit, one of them was all about games – from board games to video games. I absolutely loved exploring the evolution of board games and the vintage artifacts of my childhood.

We found rows of game tables and tried our hand at a game where you roll some dice and flip some blocks. My wife easily beat me at that game. But that’s okay. There were other vintage games on display – like Jacks, Marbles, Simon Says, a Magic 8 Ball and more.

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I found myself in my element in one section of the exhibit – video games. There was a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and the classic gold cartridge was in the slot. Do you know the significance of the hold cartridge? It’s the original Legend of Zelda game (one of my all-time favorite games).

I also got to plop a squat on a beam bag and play some Atari. I did pretty good at Asteroids, even though the controller was much simpler than the controllers of this generation.

Even though I could’ve spent hours playing the games, I had to continue my research of the museum for this article. 😉

Check out the temporary exhibits at the Hastings Museum so you can be the first to explore them.

The History of Kool-Aid: “Oh yeah!”

One of the reasons we made it a point to include the Hastings Museum on our road trip through Nebraska was to see the birthplace of Kool-Aid. That’s right, that simple powder packet you find in the grocery stores was invented by Edwin Perkins in the town of Hastings, Nebraska.

In the basement of the museum, you can learn about the life of the inventor. Walk through the family convenience store, and his childhood years. Eventually, he developed the powdered drink and named it Kool-Ade. You’ll have to read why it was changed to Kool-Aid.

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Walking through this exhibit area is a walk down memory lane. We grew up on Kool-Aid. We saw commercials of the Kool-Aid Man busting through a brick wall and saying, “Oh yeah!” When I saw the canister with collectible point stamps, I laughed because I always saved those in hope of redeeming them for something cool. But I never got enough.

Don’t miss your chance to snap a photo at your own front yard Kool-Aid stand. It reminded me of the days I sold Kool-Aid in my front yard so I had money to buy baseball cards. The garbage men were my best customer and would often pay a couple dollars for a 32 oz cup of the sugary water. 🤣

Other Permanent Exhibits at Hastings Museum

Throughout the Hastings Museum are several other exhibits to enjoy. On the upper floor, there are two exhibit areas with artifacts and histories.

LOCK, STOCK & BARRELL. Learn about different types and styles of rifles and guns. From the black-powder ones used in the Frontier days to the more modern guns used by the military. They also have some unique weapons, including a Pen Pistol and Cain Tip gun.

Connected to this exhibit is the Naval Ammunitions Depot (NAD), which shares the history it shared with the city of Hastings. NAD was one of four major depots in the U.S. and operated until 1958 when it was decommissioned.

PEOPLE ON THE PLAINS. Many different groups of people have called the plains of Nebraska home. From prehistoric times to the pioneer settlers. The Hastings Museum has done a great job of sharing the culture and stories of these different groups. Don’t miss your chance to step inside a small log cabin or a Native American tipi, furnished with hides and Indian artifacts.

More Permanent Exhibits on the Main Floor and Lower Level

NATURE NOOK. Step into the habitats of various animals throughout Nebraska, including prairies, rivers, wetlands and agricultural habitats. This is a very interactive area of the museum, allowing kids to really experience those habitats. (Main Floor)

TRAVELING IN STYLE. If you like vintage bikes, cars and buggies, you’ll want to dedicate some time to exploring this exhibit in the museum’s lower level. Even though I’m not familiar with many of the cars on display, it was interesting to see how vehicles have evolved over the years. The exhibit area includes a homemade wooden bicycle, the first hearse in Adams County (built in the 1880s) and a 1912 Rauch and Lang automobile with an 80 volt electric motor, to name a few.

DID YOU KNOW? The founder of the Hastings Museum, Albert M Brooking, is buried in the basement of the museum? You can see his vault in the floor near the Traveling In Style exhibit.

Catch a Show at the Planetarium or Theater

The Hastings Museum has two places where you can catch a show. The Super Screen Theater features various documentaries, Hollywood movies and more. For example, you can learn about Ireland or Volcanoes or catch a special feature on the big screen.

All of the films in the large theater are an additional cost. You can come to the museum specifically to watch a show and now have to pay the museum admission price. However, there is a combo discount when you go that route.

3-D films are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors (60+) and $8 for children (ages 3-12). 2-D films are a little less expensive, at $8, $7 and $6 respectively.

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Inside the planetarium, you can learn all about the night sky. What are some of the constellations overhead? Can you see the International Space Station from Earth? It’s a great way to learn about the stars overhead. And even better, planetarium shows are included in the general admission tickets. So don’t miss your chance to learn about the night sky.

The Details

Address: 1330 N Burlington Ave, Hastings, NE 68901

How long to spend: Plan on at least two hours, but with young kids you could probably spend 3-4 hours, especially if you’re watching a show in the theater or planetarium.

Cost: Adult admission tickets are $8 (13-59); $7 for Seniors and $6 for youth (3-11). Show tickets range from $6-$10, but combo admission/show tickets are available.

Hours: Open Tues-Thurs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fri-Sat 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday from 1-6 p.m. Closed on Mondays.

Website: https://hastingsmuseum.org/

Phone: (402) 461-2399

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