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Hastings, Nebraska

This building is known locally as the birthplace of Kool-Aid.

More accurately, it was the home of the Perkins Products Company, the manufacturing and retail enterprise of Kool-Aid inventor Edwin E. Perkins and his family.

The company was housed here from 1923 until 1931, when the firm moved to Chicago to expand production of Kool-Aid. The building itself is unremarkable, but the story of Edwin Perkins is extraordinary.

As a young boy in Hendley, Nebraska, he was fascinated with chemistry, printing and products like Jell-O, which was sold in his father's general store. When Mr. Perkins came to Hastings at age thirty-one in 1920, his principal interests were patent medicines and household products. With that background, he began producing a line over 125 "Onor-Maid" items which were sold door-to-door and by mail. One of the most popular was "Fruit Smack," a fruit flavored liquid concentrate.

By 1927, he had developed a powdered drink mix called Kool-Ade, which he packaged in envelopes and sold in grocery stores. Demand for this product was so great that it soon had international sales.

Before long, the Perkins Products Company was focusing entirely on Kool-Ade, and in 1931 Mr. Perkins relocated to Chicage. In 1934, the name was changed to Kool-Aid. The company was sold to General Foods in 1953.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

The City Auditorium

Well-known buildings are usually notable for their architectural size or history. That is certainly the case of the City Auditorium, constructed between 1922 and 1924 at a cost of nearly $130,000. City fathers originally

Hastings, NE Architecture

Sandhill Crane Migration

Fossil records reveal the sandhill cranes have been visiting this region for more than nine million years. For five weeks each spring, visitors to the Platte River valley in south-central Nebraska can enjoy the symphony of sounds and dancing rituals of 90 percent of the world'

Hastings, NE Recreation

Hastings College Clyde Sachtleben Observatory

Astronomy presentations and night sky viewings every other Saturday, weather permitting. The STARLINE provides observatory show times and dates and astronomy activities in the area. Named in honor of Dr. Clyde Sachtleben, 40-year physics professor

Hastings, NE Observatories

McCormick Hall

Hastings College opened in September 1882. In April 1883, ground was broken for McCormick Hall, the first building erected on the campus. It was named for reaper inventor, Cyrus McCormick, who made the initial contribution for the building'

Hastings, NE National Register

Historic Downtown Hastings

Recapture the warmth and charm of years past by visiting Historic Downtown Hastings. Experience how our past has led to our present through our historic walking/driving tour of 25

Hastings, NE Tours

Things to do near Hastings, NE

Pike-Pawnee Village and Historical Marker

Occupied from 1770 to about 1810 or later, the Pike-Pawnee National Historic Landmark has been the subject of intense...

Sutherland State Recreation Area

Lake hosts fishermen, boaters, campers and swimmers. Historical markers recall the trails along the Great Platte River route....

First Presbyterian Church

Cody Go-Karts

St. Mary's Catholic Church