Last year I sat at my table filled with books for my book signing at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History in Hastings, Nebraska facing a huge Kool-Aid Sign (and plan to do so again this year). Between antique cars and pioneer exhibits danced a pitcher of Koo-Aid surrounded by children and adults who begged for a picture with the life-sized representation of an American icon. In a museum?
So what brings a Kool-Aid celebration to a prestigious historical museum in Hastings Nebraska? Simple. It was the annual celebration of Kool-Aid days celebrated the second weekend in August. The festival brings some 16,000 people for two days of celebration. Why Nebraska and why Hastings?
Way back in the early 1920’s, a man by the name of Edwin Perkins with the help and encouragement of his wife Kitty, who lived in Hastings, NE, created a concentrated liquid drink mix they called Fruit Smack. It wasn’t until Edwin figured a way to remove the liquid and repackage and rename the concoction that his creation took off. Kool-Ade (later changed to Kool-Aid) was born. Edwin believed in a quality product, which meant everything in the Depression Era. Who wouldn’t want the fun, colorful drink when during the Great Depression, Edwin dropped the price to five cents?
Most fondly remember growing up with Kool-Aid as a mainstay of our summers and of church suppers. Many of us can also remember setting up lemonade stands and selling glasses of Kool-Aid on hot summer days to those driving by. To this day, who doesn’t have a favorite Kool-Aid flavor?
Kool-Aid began in Hastings Nebraska and the town remembers the pioneer who started it all with their once-a-year celebration centered at the Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History that houses a permanent Kool-Aid exhibit.
Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History offers a walking tour entitled “Kool-Aid: Discover the Dream.” The museum houses a replica of the original D. M. Perkins General Merchandise store down to the hitching posts. The history of the drink is revealed in interactive maps, video, photos, commercials, and more.
The Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History web site says about their exhibit of Kool-Aid. (It is)an interactive exhibit with life-like murals and replicas, a fiber-optic river of Kool-Aid, interactive DVD kiosks and even the original Kool-Aid Man costume, chronicles the creation of Kool-Aid from its humble beginnings in Hastings, Nebraska …to its present day status as an international icon and beloved soft drink.”
It is not so surprising, then, that Nebraska’s state soft drink is Kool-Aid.
2007 is the 80th anniversary of the creation of Kool-Aid and the 10th anniversary of the celebration of Kool-Aid days with concerts, food, activities and fun for the whole family. While Kool-Aid days are fun, the Kool-Aid exhibit is permanent and anyone headed toward Nebraska will find the detour to Hastings well the effort.
