Hastings in Adams County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Art Center
was formerly the Carnegie Library
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 14, 2025
1. The Art Center Marker
Redesigned and Rededicated
1969
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Education • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Carnegie Libraries, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.
Location. 40° 35.427′ N, 98° 22.428′ W. Marker is in Hastings, Nebraska, in Adams County. It can be reached from the intersection of East 7th Street and North Elm Avenue, on the right when traveling east. The marker is mounted on the west/front facade of the subject building, on the south side of Hastings College campus. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 717 Hastings College Path, Hastings NE 68901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Smoky Hills and in Eastern Nebraska. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, and on the prairies. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hastings College Campus Historic District (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); McCormick Hall (about 600 feet away); 1883 American Elm (approx. 0.2 miles away); Heartwell Park Historic District (approx. 0.4 miles away); Liberal Hall (approx. Ύ mile away); The Victory Building (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Stitt Building (approx. 0.8 miles away); Bostwick Hotel (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hastings.
Regarding The Art Center. Contributing property, Hastings College Historic District, National Register of Historic Places № 100001393.
From the National Register Nomination prepared by Brian Whetstone, 4/3/2017:
The Art Center and Kiewit Physical Education Building is a major remodeling and addition to two campus structures: the original Carnegie Library building constructed in 1906 and the P. L. Johnson gymnasium completed in 1925. Hemphill and Vierks work on these two structures entailed encasing the original P. L. Johnson gymnasium with new outerwalls, replacing the brick faηade of the Carnegie library, and connecting the two structures with an L‐shaped wing.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 14, 20252. The Art Center MarkerThe marker is mounted at eye level on the left side of the west/front entrance.
The Carnegie Library portion is constructed of reinforced brick and concrete and is one story with a half basement. The connecting addition and former P. L. Johnson gymnasium are two stories with a half basement and are made of reinforced concrete, steel, and faced with brick. Located on the west faηade, the Carnegie Library portion is of a Neoclassical design with brick laid in a common running bond. Decorative stylized brick quoins run at each corner of the structure and on the north and south facades, separating these facades into three panels. Fenestration consists of six‐over‐six double hung aluminum windows with a transom on the main floor. The windows of the half basement, located at ground level, are six‐over‐six double hung aluminum windows. There are no windows on the west faηade. The west faηade is dominated by an accentuated entryway with five Ionic columns supporting a denticulated entablature and cornice. This same cornice runs around the rest of the building. The doorway iscomposed of two wood doors with plate glass windows and a transom with a decorative metal grille. The doorway is surrounded by a heavy stone architrave capped with an entablature supported by two stone brackets.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 14, 20253. Art Center Dedication Plaque(mounted directly above the Carnegie Library marker)
Art Center
This art center is made possible
by the generous gifts of
Mr. & Mrs. Morton Steinhart
and the Woods Charitable Fund Incorporated
1969
Also see . . . History of Perkins Library (Hastings College).
(By Robert Nedderman) Excerpt: Hastings College has always had a library. In the beginning it was located in McCormick Hall, with George White being the first librarian. For the next nearly 30 years it had various homes until, in 1911, thanks to the generosity of Andrew Carnegie, a new library opened on the south end of campus. This library served the college until 1963 when Perkins Library opened. At that time, the Carnegie Library building received a face-lift and a new brick faηade.(Submitted on March 7, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 14, 2025
4. The Art Center (formerly the Carnegie Library) (northwest elevation)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 14, 2025
5. The Art Center (formerly the Carnegie Library) (southwest elevation)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 14, 2025
6. The Art Center (formerly the Carnegie Library) (west/front elevation)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 48 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 7, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
