Just a sampling of the historic buildings in downtown Hastings, Minnesota.
WHY I’VE NEVER VISITED historic Hastings, a Mississippi River town an hour from my Faribault home, prior to a few weeks ago remains a mystery to me.
Jammed with building after building after building hearkening from yesteryear, Hastings’ downtown holds precisely the type of architecture and vintage imprint that I find especially appealing.
Looking up at Second Childhood Toys.
I could just stand there and gawk at the upper floors of these mostly brick buildings—at the arched windows, the detailed trim, the dates that define a building’s birth—for a good spell.
Stroll the sidewalks of downtown Hastings at a leisurely pace and step inside the many charming shops.
But the sidewalk level, too, offers an equal amount of charm with a multitude of antique and gift shops, a sweet spot to sample ice cream or candy, and more.
Relaxing on an early autumn afternoon in downtown Hastings, when the weather was still warm.
It’s the kind of Main Street where folks lollygag, where locals relax on a bench and sip coffee, where a dog lazes in the middle of the sidewalk and no one minds skirting around the canine, where trolls lurk near the bridge.
In Oliver’s Grove 1819, a downtown park, I found this mural of trolls and the old spiral bridge which once crossed over the Mississippi from Hastings to Wisconsin. Hastings was originally called Oliver’s Grove after Lt. William G. Oliver who arrived here in 1819.
This describes the Hastings I found on a Saturday afternoon in early autumn. Hastings, with its historic district, reminds me of Faribault’s downtown. Except Faribault seems to be mostly undiscovered.
Mailboxes and an historic marker on a door in the business district.
These circus glasses caught my eye inside an antique shop, Second Street Antiques and Collectibles, I believe. It was difficult for me to resist purchasing these as I collect vintage glassware.
Inside the same antique shop, looking across the street at a row of historic buildings.
Just in time for Halloween…a vintage clown costume in the same antique mall.
A vintage turkey decoration for the table, a few booths over from that Halloween costume.
One more seasonal find, a casserole in autumn hues.
So many antique shops to visit and not enough time to see them all.
Walking the dog in historic downtown Hastings on a warm and sunny Saturday earlier in autumn.
PLEASE CHECK BACK for more posts from historic Hastings.
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
What a pleasant surprise to open your blog this morning Audrey and view a sight I had just seen on Saturday. My two sisters and I were in Hastings to visit our aunt for her birthday. My mother was born and raised in Hastings and my aunt is the last of her sisters and still lives there in a small house right on the river on First Street.
When I was a child, I would vacation at my grandparents and, being a child of the farm, those were the longest days of my life because I couldn’t wait for the end of the week to get back home to the cows and fields and woods to roam around in again.
My sisters agreed, as we drove down Second Street, that we were going to visit Hastings again soon and look through those shops. I think my grandsons will be along as they think antique stores are great to visit.
The aunt we visited once had a small shop on the same block. She worked as a telephone operator back when there were such creatures in small towns. Then she opened her shop as a repair person for phones when phones were other than cell and digital.
Next time you are in Hastings, visit the Vermillion Falls. Its a beautiful falls next to the large grain elevators near the end of town as you head towards Red Wing.
I find it so intriguing that your aunt would have worked as a telephone repair woman.
And, yes, we saw Vermillion Falls next to the grain elevator. We packed a picnic lunch and ate in the park there. I have photos, but just have not shown you them yet.
Check back for more pix from Hastings and an antique store your grandsons will love.
Im pretty certain I have never been in downtown Hastings. Looks Like a place I would like to visit! I love the colorful (mismatched) buildings in the first photo, and those mailboxes are just too cool for words.
Definitely a town you would like, Jackie. And just FYI, I almost missed those mailboxes.
Very fun! Love those antique shops and especially that troll eyeing the bridge with a pipe in his mouth. Hilarious and wonderful!
I have this thing about trolls and bridges. I loved that storybook about the Three Billy Goats Gruff and the troll lurking beneath the bridge.
Me, too. It’s a family favorite.
I haven’t been downtown Hastings for eons!! We go over the bridge often (Mom lives in Maplewood) and I look down on the town and often say to DH that we should digress one day and revisit the main street…..and the years go by………It is so typically a river town and so beautiful. I love Vermillion Falls, too. Look forward to that post!!! Do remember the old bridge that ‘dumped’ traffic into the business district! That was a day or two ago! LOL!
Next trip, allow yourself some extra time and detour into the downtown.
Definitely a ‘must do’ but the next trip will be Thanksgiving! but sometime soon!
Loving your photos – What a Great Place to Explore – loved that the goldie never moved from that spot – ha! Happy Tuesday:)
Thank you. Hastings is such an easy and fun town to photograph.
Something told me to check you out when I saw you on another blog; so glad I did! I know a few of your residents,one is a local celebrity, or should I say, TWO are celebs living there; a husband and wife writing team; (he has been a local gov’t official, as well.)
Lovely to see your charming town! I, too, live in an old town that has been carefully protected;(the town dates to the early 1700’s).
Your pictures are beautiful; so colorful and you have a” good eye”.
Thank you for stopping by Minnesota Prairie Roots and appreciating my photos and good eye.
I cannot imagine a town dating to the early 1700s. That is old.
I do not live in Hastings, the town featured in my post. I live about an hour away to the west in Faribault.
So who are the husband and wife writing team you mention?
MaryJanice Davidson and Anthony Alongi; lovely people.
I looked around and saw the beautiful shots you have of Faribault; your Autumns are beautiful! You have to realize that MN was settled a lot later than where I am now, in central KY.I was born and raised in the Washington, DC area, so I am used to old cities.I met another blogger last week who is in Armenia, in one of the longest continually-inhabited cities in the world….can you imagine? Thousands of years… makes the 1700’s pale in comparison.The very air must be thick with history.
I have been tooling around;you have a very diverse and interesting blog.I will try to make time soon to get back to you…I am doing major spruce-up before relatives arrive for Thanksgiving!
Good luck to you.
Well, thanks for touring my blog and finding my writing and photos interesting. I am passionate about writing and photography and sharing my discoveries with others. It’s a pleasure to have you join Minnesota Prairie Roots readership all the way from central Kentucky.
Yes, I totally realize that the South and East have centuries on the Midwest. My hometown of Vesta in southwestern, Minnesota, in fact, was only founded in 1900, if I’m remembering correctly. The older I get, the more I appreciate history.
Wow, what a great visit thru Your gorgeous photos!
Again, thank you.
if replies are reviewed before posting, no need to post this reply. It’s simply a request for a minor correction, and some additional information.
Please update, or enter an addendum regarding Hastings geographical location. This article states that the Hey 61 bridge in Hastings crosses the river into Wisconsin. Although Wisconsin is the neighboring state, the north side of the bridge is also in Minnesota – Washington County. By road, there are still a few miles to drive on Hwy 10 before crossing over the St Croix River – just above the confluence with the Mississippi River – into historic, scenic, Prescott, WI. This trip can also be made along the shorter bike path between the two communities. Bikes can be rented in downtown Hastings – manual and electric.
Thanks for the update. Yes, I do review all posts before publishing. But because this one was written some time ago, It’s easier for me logistically to simply add your comment.