Hastings Museum

For 99 years, the Hastings Museum has preserved the history and evolving culture of Hastings and the surrounding region, and brought you life up close. Our shared story and humanity come to life through exhibits, films, and on-site and off-site programs that span topics from prehistoric eras to present-day events. Your generosity makes this work possible and helps us continue serving Adams County and communities across Nebraska.  

Founded in 1927, the Hastings Museum is the largest municipal museum between Chicago and Denver. It features a 65-foot-wide screen theater, a full-dome planetarium, and a wide variety of exhibits. Our collections span more than 100 million years, from the Cretaceous Period to contemporary Adams County.

We tell the stories and share the cultures of Paleo-Indians and Euro-Americans, while highlighting Hastings’ unique contributions to the world, including the invention of Kool-Aid, the globally recognized soft drink. Additional exhibits explore major historical events such as World War II and the Vietnam War, as well as the impact of the Naval Ammunition Depot on Adams County and the surrounding region. Visitors can also experience dozens of animal species displayed in naturalistic settings, offering an up-close look at wildlife.

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Hastings Museum welcomes more than 30,000 visitors each year. In 2024 alone, nearly 33,000 guests visited from 620 domestic and seven international postal codes. The J.M. McDonald Planetarium presents over 550 shows annually, while nearly 6,000 students from Nebraska and Kansas take part in educational field trips.

We are proud to welcome visitors from 83 of Nebraska’s 93 counties and 48 of the 50 states. Through its programs and experiences, the Hastings Museum inspires a deeper understanding of our past to help shape a better future.

Testimonials

• "I found it amazing that they had that much stuff inside the confines of the museum walls without being crowded. We gave it 3 hours on a Sunday and didn't see even half of the exhibits. Our next stop was Kearney, and on a day where one of our attractions fell through, we drove back to Hastings and spent another 4 hours going through the rest of the museum. I'm from Omaha, and our museums aren't half that well stocked. Hats off to Hastings for preserving the past! This was money well spent!" - Robert Dixon
• "Family just got a membership and is definitely worth it! My son goes at least twice a week and it always excited to explore. We are lucky to have such a great place in Hastings." - Gavin Raitt
• "The Hastings Museum was bigger than expected (3 floors)!! It was well worth the drive from Lincoln...They have so many things to see...Definitely a great place for families with kids, especially young ones. However it was still very fun as two adults going without children. Would highly recommend!!" - Brittany Bearss
• "My goal was to actually see the Kool-Aid exhibit at this museum. But I was very impressed and surprised at the rest of the facility...It is quite a collection and well worth the admission price...It's very well done." - Myron Jackson
• "All kinds of things to see and learn about here! From prairie settlers, to a planetarium, kool aid exhibit and lots of animals, we had lots of fun! An awesome employee offered us a tour and info about how things were acquired/some of the changes that they hoped to make or add. This is a great inexpensive place to visit!" - Shelby Todd
• "Fun family outing place, the imax is crazy awesome, the planetarium is wonderful and the koolaid display is fantastic. Hastings is really lucky to have such a good fun family place" - Lyndi Dack
• "Fabulous exhibits and the hands on stuff is great, it explains so much and deserves to be more widely known" - Jordan Kramer
• “Hasting museum -home of koolaid was amazing. They did a fabulous job. The museum was 3 levels. Very interactive and just a wonderful experience” – America’s Roadside Legends: where History, Iconic Attractions & Nostalgia Facebook Group