The Burlington Depot

Adams County, and Hastings in particular, are "children of
the railroads," having been founded and sustained by rail companies between
the 1870s and 1960s. Hastings owes is very existence to an intersection of two
railways, the Burlington and Missouri River and the St. Joseph and Denver City
lines. Although most of Hastings is built on former Union Pacific land, Adams
County has always been Burlington country.

Known as the Burlington and Missouri River (1871), the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy (1880), the Burlington Northern (1970) and the Burlington
- Santa Fe (1995), this railroad built its main line through the country, constructed
the most elaborate depot and had a division office here the longest. It was
the Burlington which brought the fabled Zephyr to Adams County, and on its road,
Nebraska's last commercial passenger trains, via Amtrak, continue to run. When
the Burlington Railway Depot was completed in 1902, Hastings was the third largest
railroad center in Nebraska. Designed by Omaha architect Thomas R. Kimball,
the station is an example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. The building,
which welcomed presidents Taft, Truman and Eisenhower, is on the National
Register of Historic Places.

Crane Meadows Observatory

Crane Meadows Nature Center is a year-round educational organization dedicated to providing an understanding of, and access to, the ecosystems of the Platte River valley. Open daily, with expanded hours during the crane season (8 a.m.-6 p.m.)

Hastings, NE Recreation

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

The Stein Building

For more than 30 years after the turn of the century, the Stein Brothers Store provided quality merchandise from all over the world to south central Nebraska shoppers. Located at 620 West Second Street, the Stein building was easily identifiable by the unique lion'

Hastings, NE National Register

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

Victory Building

The Victory Building, named to commemorate America's victory in World War I, is one of Nebraska's finest examples of early 20th Century industrial architecture. It was constructed between 1917 and 1920 by harness maker William

Hastings, NE National Register

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Attractions and Upcoming Events

Crane Meadows Observatory

The City Auditorium

The Stein Building

Hastings College Clyde Sachtleben Observatory

Victory Building

Things to do Railroad History near Hastings, NE

C B & Q Depot

Union Pacific Railroad Bailey Yard

The Burlington Depot

Burlington Depot

Golden Spike Tower & Visitor Center