Down in south central Nebraska, Hastings is the kind of town that is typical to the Mid-West. It’s fairly quiet, flat yet scenic but it’s got that friendly feel you wouldn’t find in the busier more aloof areas of the country like California or New York. Like most places in Nebraska, Hastings is not very old so there isn’t much in the way of historical sites but there is still plenty to do here and a very large fountain of which the locals are very proud.
You may have experienced the fountains of Rome dating back centuries or even the iconic fountain in Trafalgar Square in London, but anyone who calls themselves a fountain-lover cannot rest in their quest to find the best example of water-spraying engineering until they get to Hastings, Nebraska. Built during the horrific days of the Dust Bowl, this fountain gave hope to the local people and is still pumping out thousands of gallons of water to this very day. The accompanying light show is certainly worth a look.
Just off the highway directly outside the town, bunkers dating back to World War II make an unexpected historical site in Hastings. The bunkers were used as a naval ammunition depot during the war years and remain intact to this day.
Highlights
Fisher Fountain: visitors to this large fountain with accompanying light show will not fail to be impressed and may even get a little wet, a welcome relief during the summer.
Oregon Trail: passing south of Hastings, this trail makes an excellent venue for running or cycling and there are some local historical sites dotted along the route.
WWII Naval Ammunition Depot: featuring large bunkers used in the war years to store arms, this depot was the largest in the country and fired America’s success at sea.