Hastings Historic Preservation

Historic preservation is focused on preserving and celebrating history and fostering a sense of place and community identity through protecting historic and culturally significant buildings and sites. Historic preservation can also increase property values, attract visitors, and support investment through availability of grants and historic tax credits. The City of Hastings has numerous buildings and sites that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places located throughout the City and Downtown. While a National Register designation for a property can provide financial assistance, it does not place restrictions upon what a property owner can do with their property. A state or local preservation ordinance, on the other hand, can regulate alterations of historic properties in order to preserve an area's heritage. The City of Hastings does not currently have a historic preservation ordinance in place.

The Nebraska State Historical Society's Preservation Office provides "a variety of programs for all people who are interested in preserving the places that help tell the many stories of Nebraska's history." The current Nebraska Statewide Preservation Plan highlights the following four focus areas for 2022 through 2027:

Focus on Community
Emphasize Inclusive History
Maintain our Heritage
Maintain Preservation Infrastructure

The Nebraska State Historical Society, also known as History Nebraska, operates several programs focused on the history of place. These programs include the Nebraska Historic Resource Survey and Inventory, Certified Local Government program, and Preservation Incentives programs, such as Nebraska Historic Tax Credits and Valuation Incentive Program.

The City of Hastings is interested in pursuing a Certified Local Government designation. The Certified Local Government program provides a local opportunity for preservation of historic properties and is a partnership between the local government, Nebraska State Historical Society and the National Park Service. The goal of this program is to increase local preservation activities and encourage suitable development through ordinances. With this designation, the City has the option to designate local landmarks to preserve local history, which would be eligible for preservation tax incentives without needing to be on the National Register. Additionally, the City would become eligible to receive yearly grants and receive technical assistance and training.

Properties and Historic Districts in Hastings listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Click the image below to view an interactive map.

Focus on Community
Emphasize Inclusive History
Maintain our Heritage
Maintain Preservation Infrastructure

Properties and Historic Districts in Hastings listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Click the image below to view an interactive map.

Hastings' National Register Listings

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For more information about the Hastings’ National Register Listed Properties continue reading below.

Hastings has various properties that are designated as National Register Listed Properties and are representative of local, regional, or national historical significance. The document section contains the nomination forms for these properties, which details their significance and historical contributions. Some nomination forms were completed many years ago and may list historically contributing buildings that have since been demolished. The following bullets contain a summary about these properties.

Individually Listed Properties (14)

Burlington StationBurlington Station was deemed historically significant due to the importance of the railroads in the settlement of the Great Plains region. Additionally, the station design was an early example of classical design with significant steps toward a new idiom that rose to prominence 15 to 20 years later. For more information visit the Burlington Station pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from August 1977.

Chatauqua Pavilion
Chatauqua Pavilion
was deemed historically significant due to its association with the Chatauqua movement. Additionally, the building is architecturally significant through its unique roof design that enabled a large space to be spanned without the need for columns. For more information visit the Chatauqua Pavilion pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from May 1978.

Clarke HotelThe Clarke Hotel was deemed historically significant due to its architect. Charles W. Way was a locally important architect that designed the majority of prominent buildings in Hastings including various downtown buildings and private residences. In 1988, tax increment financing was used to remodel the building into an assisted living facility, now known as The Kensington. For more information visit the Clarke Hotel pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from October 1987.

Farrell Block
The Farrell Block was deemed historically significant due to its association with Thomas E. Farrell, an early settler in the community. Thomas E. Farrell was one of four men who laid out Hastings and served the community in several public capacities. Additionally, the Farrell Block occupies a prominent corner in Downtown Hastings and is the only 19th-century commercial building of stone in the business district. For more information visit the Farrell Block pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from March 1979.

Foote Clinic
The Foote Clinic was deemed historically significant due to its association with Dr. Eugene Foote, a prominent Hastings physician. Dr. Eugene Foote was a medical pioneer and practitioner and was the first to provide integrated care consisting of multiple specialists outside of a hospital at his clinic. For more information visit the Foote Clinic pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from February 2016.

Hastings Brewery and Bottling Works
The

Hastings Brewery and Bottling Works was deemed historically significant due to its architectural style. The building portrays a German style common among Pre-Prohibition American breweries and was one of the last brewery facilities in Nebraska. The building was built with brick from the four local brickyards and had additions designed by prominent Hastings’ architect C.W. Way. For more information visit the Hastings Brewery and Bottling Works pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from May 2015.

Hastings Municipal Airport Hangar 1
Hastings Municipal Airport Hangar 1
was deemed historically significant due to its architectural style. The Hangar is the oldest known building of its type in the state and is one of only two brick aircraft hangars in the state. For more information visit the Hastings Municipal Airport Hangar 1 pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from June 2005.

McCormick Hall was deemed historically significant due to being the first building built on Hastings College’s campus. Additionally, the building type is closely associated with educational architecture during the late 19th century. For more information visit the McCormick Hall pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from May 1975.

Nebraska Loan and Trust Company BuildingThe
Nebraska Loan and Trust Company Building was deemed historically significant due to its use as the headquarters of two financial institutions that were instrumental in the development of south-central and western areas of Nebraska. Also known as the Clarke-Buchanan Building, it is an example of the High Victorian Italianate style of architecture. Additionally, this building is the sole survivor of three similar buildings in Downtown Hastings including the Kerr Opera House and First National Bank. These buildings were a distinguishing feature of Downtown Hastings in the 1880s. For more information visit the Nebraska Loan and Trust Company Building pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from May 1979.

The Nowlan Dietrich House was deemed historically significant due to its association with Charles Henry Dietrich and Margretta Shaw Stewart Dietrich. Charles Dietrich was a Governor of Nebraska, a U.S. Senator and a Hastings banker. Margretta Shaw Stewart Dietrich was prominent in campaigns and organizations for women’s and children’s rights. This house was their home throughout their marriage and remains primarily unchanged. For more information visit the Nowlan Dietrich House pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from February 1979.

St. Mark's Episcopal Pro Cathedral
St. Mark’s Episcopal Pro Cathedral
was deemed historically significant due to its architect and architectural style. The Cathedral was designed by renowned architect Ralph Adams Cram, of the architectural firm of Cram & Ferguson. The Cathedral was designed in the Late Gothic Revival style and is one of only two buildings in Nebraska designed by the architectural firm Cram & Ferguson. For more information visit the St Marks Episcopal Pro Cathedral pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from October 1987.

Stein Brother's Building
The

Stein Brother’s Building was deemed historically significant due to its retail business. The Stein Brothers Store was noted for providing a quality, volume, and variety of goods and had been an important part of Hastings’ business community. Additionally, the building is among the best-preserved older commercial structures in Hastings and is a rare example in Nebraska of Prairie-Style features appearing in commercial architecture. For more information visit the Stein Brothers Building pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from May 1979.

Victory Building
The

Victory Building was deemed historically significant due to its embodiment of fireproof industrial architecture of the early 20th century and ornamentation associated with its Sullivanesque form. The building contains advanced technical features of the 1920s including concrete frame construction, sprinkler system, steel fire doors, steel sash windows, and steel furnishings, which embody innovative technologies from the time. Additionally, the Sullivanesque form and ornamentation represent the nationalistic sentiment of the time through the use of a distinct American architectural style, which was featured to commemorate America’s victory in the war. For more information visit the Victory Building pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from March 1987.

William Brach House
The

William Brach House was deemed historically significant due to its association with William Brach. William Brach managed a branch of the Wolbach Brothers dry goods store in Hastings, which was renamed to Wolbach & Brach when it prospered. This house was the second house William Brach lived in in Hastings and is the only house that retains its integrity. The house was built around 1884 in a simplified Queen Anne style and remodeled in a Classical Revival manner, which was a popular modification to Nebraska houses at that time. For more information visit the William Brach House pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from July 1978.

Historic Districts (4)

The Central Hastings Historic District was deemed historically significant due to its association with the development of the City of Hastings and its representation of the evolving needs in the community. The District is generally bounded by 7th and 12th Streets and Colorado and Bellevue Avenues. The historic properties in this district document the community development from 1880 to 1950, which follows the rapid growth and construction of the 1880s to the conversion of large homes into apartments in the 1940s. Some contributing structures have since been demolished, but the majority of significant structures remain. For more information visit the Central Hastings Historic District pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from March 2003.

The Hastings College Historic District was deemed historically significant due to association with the G.I. Bill. This bill provided federal funding to WWII Veterans for educational expenses including tuition. This led to soaring enrollment and expansion of the Hastings College campus. The initial development of the campus was haphazard, but later expansions were part of an architecturally unified quadrangle, first envisioned by local architect C.W. Way. Some contributing structures have since been demolished, but the majority of significant structures remain. For more information visit the Hastings College pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from June 2017.

The Hastings Downtown Historic District was deemed historically significant due to its representation of the development of the community and its commercial growth. The District is generally bounded by 3rd Street, Colorado and Burlington Avenues, and the BNSF railroad tracks. The downtown buildings reflect a variety of architectural styles and are representative of mid-20th century new construction and building rehabilitation. Additionally, 6 buildings in the district are individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Some contributing structures have since been demolished or remodeled, but the majority of significant structures remain. For more information visit the Hastings Downtown Historic District pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from September 2018.

The Heartwell Park Historic District was deemed historically significant due to its representation of a planned residential development, which was new to the city in the late 19th century. The District generally encompasses the properties along Forest Boulevard and Lakeside Drive. Heartwell Park was privately developed and purchased by the City. A.N. Carpenter, a landscape architect, designed the residential layout to surround the park. The park landscape and residential development along curvilinear streets with a boulevard were not common in local residential neighborhoods at that time. For more information visit the Heartwell Park Historic District pdf in the Documents section, which includes the complete nomination form from February 2000.