South of where the first house was built in Hastings around 1871; John Fremont and Kit Carson camped and Eight men of Simonton and Smith wagon train were massacred in previous years. However 1 year later the Burlington and Missouri River railroad came to Hastings and 10 years later Hastings College was born. During World War II, the earth covered bunkers of the Naval Ammunition Depot just East of Hastings protected ammunition produced here. Chautauqua Pavilion was built around 1907 and seats close to 3,500. It is the place to take in the Hastings Symphony concerts. Several other venues are good places to catch a night of entertainment. Hastings College presents theatrical and musical performances open to the public; the Hastings Community Theater runs several performances every year featuring homegrown talent and the Listening Room presents singers/songwriters from all over the United States between September and May. The Hastings museum has an interactive Kool-Aid display in recognition of the product’s manufacture here until 1931. The City of Hastings Aquacourt is an amazing facility. Besides its immense wave pool, flute slide, tube slide and family slide and children’s playground in the water it’s lazy river circles the whole main area of the facility.