Hastings Museum, Municipal museum in Hastings, United States

The Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History occupies a 40,000-square-foot building dedicated on June 15, 1939, built with Works Progress Administration funds. Its exhibits cover Adams County and the Great Plains: natural history dioramas, an armaments collection, pioneer life, rocks, minerals, fossils, antique vehicles, coins, and a planetarium. The Lied IMAX Theater was added on the west side in 1993.

The Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History was formed in January 1926 and opened to the public in June 1926, after Adam Breede's display of hunting trophies drew crowds. It first occupied the former Hawthorne School Building near South Lincoln Avenue. A permanent building of about 40,000 square feet, funded through the Works Progress Administration, was dedicated on June 15, 1939. From 1941 to 1978 it was billed as the House of Yesterday.

The museum displays permanent exhibits about Native Americans of the Plains through artifacts and educational materials about their traditional way of life. Visitors today can see how these communities inhabited and used the land in this region.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday for visitors who want to explore the exhibits at their own pace. The three floors allow guests to plan their visit flexibly and spend time on the areas that interest them most.

The museum houses a special exhibit about Kool-Aid, the beverage invented in Hastings. This section shows the history of this Nebraska-made product and its rise to popularity.