Hastings Downtown District Added to National Register of Historic Places

We’re pleased to announce that the Hastings Downtown Historic District has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places!

History Nebraska is pleased to announce that the Hastings Downtown Historic District has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The district, encompassing an area roughly between West 3rd Street, North Colorado Avenue, North Burlington Avenue, and the Burlington Northern railroad tracks, contains 103 contributing buildings including six buildings currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places. These properties are a good example of the commercial development of Hastings between 1880 to 1968. These dates coincide with the construction of the earliest existing buildings to within 50 years from the present, which is the requirement of a National Register listing.

Like many Nebraska communities, the Hastings downtown district was highly influenced by agriculture and the railroad. During the 1910s and 1920s, the original route of the Lincoln Highway passed through downtown Hastings and greatly influenced its development until the highway was rerouted in 1926.

The district contains an intact collection of late-19th century to early-to-mid-20th-century commercial buildings that reflect nearly 90 years of commercial development in Hastings.
The Hastings downtown district listing is the 19th listing in the National Register of Historic Places from Adams County.

The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s inventory of properties deemed worthy of preservation.  It is part of a national program to coordinate and support local and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect the nation’s historical and archeological resources.  The National Register was developed to recognize historic places and their role in contributing to our country’s heritage. Properties listed in the National Register either individually or as contributing to a historic district are eligible for State and Federal tax incentives. For more information on the National Register program in Nebraska, contact the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office at the History Nebraska at (402) 471-4775 or visit history.nebraska.gov/historic-preservation.

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Yutan Tornado – March 23, 1913

Yutan Tornado – March 23, 1913

About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast.

Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.