Life in Hastings, Nebraska

Having moved to Hastings, Nebraska not too long ago, I am learning a little more about this little city every day. I'd like to share with you some of the little facts that I have found interesting about this town.

Hastings, Nebraska holds the title of " the greenest city in the U.S.". People here really pride themselves in having a green yard! Every where you look, you can see that yard work is more than a chore to the residents here. They seem to enjoy keeping up their yards and gardens. Definitely a prideful community.

Did you ever wonder who invented Kool-aid and where it was invented? Kool-aid was actually invented in Hastings, Nebraska. It was invented by a man named Edwin Perkins in 1927. This invention is celebrated, every year, the second weekend in August. During this celebration, there are many Kool-aid related activities for kids and adults alike to participate in. Can you imagine a celebration for Kool-aid? Sounds like fun to me!

Hastings is also the home of the Children's Museum of Central Nebraska. It is a relatively small museum, but it has a lot of fun things for kids to do. They are able to learn hands-on. It is located inside a mall, Imperial Mall, to be exact. This is a good place to visit if you have young children and want them to have a fun learning experience.

There is also the Hastings Museum. It has an IMAX theater with a screen that is five stories high! Talk about a movie coming to life! They feature exhibits of pioneer and natural history. Of course, they also have a Kool-aid exhibit, along with a planetarium, and a discovery center. This is a great place to take kids, or adults. People of all ages can enjoy themselves and learn a bit about history.

This town is full of history. U.S. Highway 6 West in Hastings, Nebraska is one of the cut-off points that joined the Overland Trail along the Platte River. For those who do not know what The Overland Trail is, or rather, was, It was a mail and stage coach route that went from Jules burg, Colorado to Fort Bridger, Wyoming. It was created to help get around the Indian uprisings and allow for safe passage of mail.

Three miles East of Hastings is the largest United States World War II ammunition plant. There are still buildings standing that were used to house soldiers as well as ammunition. It is quite a site to see. If you didn't know what they were, you may assume that they were merely warehouses. Some even look like weird hills.

One of the most beautiful things to see in this town is the Fisher Fountain. During the day, it looks like an ordinary water fountain, but at night, it is all lit up. The water changes colors before your eyes. Definitely a sight to see if you are in Hastings.

If you want a place to go that has something for everyone to do, try the YMCA of Hastings. At the YMCA, there is of course a pool, a weight room, an indoor basketball court, as well as a hot tub and sauna. That it in only one of their two buildings. In the other one, there is a water slide, an indoor playground for kids, a small rock-climbing wall, video games, another weight room and exercise area. That's not all either. Outside, they have a miniature golf course and a go-cart track. Lots of fun for all.

For those who enjoy being outdoors in the winter, there is Brickyard Park. This is a lovely place to go sledding. The sledding area is like a giant bowl. Even adults have fun here.

Hastings also has an outdoor water park for those of us who like that sort of thing. It isn't the world's largest or anything, but it is a nice place to take the family to cool off on a hot Summer's day. At the water-park, there are a few different water-slides, a lazy river, and a wave pool. Next to the water-park, there is also a skate-park for those who like to skate. Kids of all ages do tricks on their skateboards here. With it's location being right next to the water-park, families can please all of their kids at once.

One of the best things about the City of Hastings, Nebraska, is the fact that although it is a mid-sized city, the people are pretty friendly. The community seems to look out for each other. It isn't quite a lazy little town, but not a busy big city either. People here try to keep the city's business here, and they pride themselves in keeping things simple, and in the hometown.

In conclusion, after living here in Hastings, Nebraska for a relatively short time now, I have decided that this isn't a bad place to live after all. There are things here for the whole family to do, there is history in this town, and it is a pretty friendly community. What more could a person ask for?