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FacebookHastings is center of Kool-Aid universe
When we moved to Hastings six years ago I knew Kool-Aid was somehow tied to the community because my in-laws had mailed the kids a Kool-Aid Days postcard before we moved.
The birthplace of Kool-Aid is clearly marked at the site of the original Perkins Product Company building on First Street.
I had no idea Hastings was the birthplace of Kool-Aid! We soon discovered this and more following a few trips to Hastings Museum when we had an opportunity to check out the Kool-Aid exhibit. Then the following August the whole family got its first taste of Kool-Aid Days when we joined thousands of other folks at the world’s largest Kool-Aid stand, the concert, jammers races at the water park and more.
Our family has been hooked ever since.
For the last year, the exhibit at Hastings Museum has been undergoing a complete re-do. My husband got a sneak peak a couple of weeks ago. He says it’s awesome and we can’t wait to have a closer look when it re-opens this week.
Everyone we take to the museum really enjoys the Kool-Aid exhibit, and I’m sure they’ll love the new one, too. After all, Kool-Aid is fun and brings back memories for many generations, from grandpa and grandma to the kids.
In preparation for Kool-Aid Days this year, we thought we’d venture out in search of some of the Kool-Aid things in town.
First stop was the building where it all began – on First Street across from Showcase. This is the original Perkins Product Company building where Kool-Aid was invented and made. The building has undergone a facelift and is a colorful site. It’s a great place for people to stop and take a photo and learn a little about the soft drink and its inventor Edwin Perkins.
Kool-Aid Man’s footprints are pretty big!
For example, did you know there were six original flavors of Kool-Aid? They were strawberry, cherry, lemon-lime, grape, orange and raspberry.
They’ll have a lot more flavors than that at Kool-Aid Days this weekend, of course. Some of our favorites are mango, pineapple, black cherry and watermelon-cherry. We head downtown early for the parade and then straight to the Kool-Aid stand to start tasting!
Continuing our tour, we ventured over to the Visitor Center (100 North Shore Drive) to have a look at Kool-Aid Man’s footprints, which were cast in concrete at the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood and donated to Hastings by Kraft, which owns the Kool-Aid brand.
The first words out of our kids’ mouths were, “Kool-Aid Man has some big feet!”
A less known Kool-Aid fact is that Edwin Perkins and his wife Kitty are buried at Parkview Cemetery here in town. It’s pretty amazing that this pair who accomplished so much wanted to come back to Hastings to be buried. I’m not sure if we’ll make it to the cemetery before Kool-Aid Days kicks off, but it’s on our to-do list.
Are there any other Kool-Aid items in town we’re missing? Leave a comment and let us know!
Tags: Hastings Museum, Kool-Aid
About the author: Denise Howie
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I had the good fortune of visiting the Hastings Museum during late July.
I was given a “behind the scenes” tour of the Kool-Aid exhibit while it was being refurbished. The walk through brought back memories of the museum members only preview of the exhibit many years ago. Former Museum Director Terry Hunter invited me to attend the evening event. I was living in Southern California at the time and was very happy to make the trip.
The new Kool-Aid exhibit is fascinating as it incorporates more about Edwin Perkins. In fact, the entire museum is just incredible. What began as a one-day visit became a two-day excursion.
Current Museum Director Rebecca Matticks, Curator Teresa Kreutzer-Hodson, and the entire staff are doing a remarkable job updating and transforming the exhibits of the Hastings Museum.
The friendly customer service at the admission desk is refreshing. Three floors of extraordinary exhibits, a show in the J.M. McDonald Planetarium, and a film in the Lied Super Screen Theatre are not to be missed.
I respect and admire all who are involved with making the Hastings Museum the great place it is, and will be in years to come. I say this with the strongest of convictions. You see, I am a former director of the museum (1976-1996).
Ed Bisaillon
I’m glad you came back! My family and I love Hastings Museum and no visit is ever complete without going downstairs to the Kool-Aid exhibit.
Now that it has been refurbished, the kids are more excited than ever to see the new colorful walls and how everything has been rearranged. I think their favorite part is still the 2 cents a glass Kool-Aid stand!
Our community is so lucky to have the Hastings Museum. It is truly a community treasure!