Looking to explore the most charming communities in the Cornhusker State? Check out Hastings! This small college town in Nebraska is full of culture, quaint attractions, and lovely parks. With a stunning, historic downtown and an abundance of good shopping and food, you’ll be happy you visited. And just wait until you hear what Hasting’s claim to fame is!

Early Nebraskans founded Hastings at the intersection of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad and the St. Joseph and Denver City Railroad in 1872. Over the years, the town has done a remarkable job maintaining its cozy, historic feel.
Jasperdo/flickr
As a result of this dedication to conserving the community's original buildings, both the Heartwell Park and Central Hastings neighborhoods are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Andrew Bish/Google Reviews
The downtown area is chock full of diverting shops and welcoming cafes.
Jasperdo/flickr

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A great place to explore this history is at the Hastings Museum beside Highland Park. The town raised the building in 1939 as part of the Works Progress program, and nowadays, it purports to be the largest municipal museum between Denver and Chicago.
Julio Bocker/Google Reviews
It's the keepers of some significant local stories. In 1927, a man named Edwin Perkins invented Kool-Aid in Hastings!
It's worth taking a walk just north of the museum. There, you'll find Lake Hastings Park.
Philip Eckerberg/AllTrails
This beautiful public space contains a trail that loops around the waterfront.
Hastings College is at the heart of this quaint community.
Hastings College/Google Reviews
Since 1882, this private college has been the center of local culture and events. Sports are taken seriously by students and faculty, and the Broncos have 24 athletic intercollegiate varsity teams!
The campus itself is worth a visit.
Hastings College/Google Reviews
At 120 acres, its brick buildings create a classic, collegiate atmosphere.

If you’re looking to explore the most charming communities in beautiful Nebraska, Hastings should absolutely be on the top of your list. It’s brimming with arts, good food, and shopping, and it’s totally worth a visit. While it has other claims to fame, such as introducing the world to Kool-Aid, Hastings College is smack at the center of its vibrant culture. That’s why, in our opinion, it has to be one of the quaintest, small college towns in Nebraska. Book a visit, pack your car for a road trip, and spend a weekend getting to know this wonderful community!

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Hastings, NE, USA