Hastings Tutors

About Hastings

Location, location, location. Hastings, Minnesota, is proof that geography can hold the key to residential growth. The town was established near the confluence of the St. Croix, Vermillion, and Mississippi rivers. The area provided a deep riverboat port where steamboats could easily unload goods and passengers, and land that was neither too swampy nor hilly. Hastings has a history that is well documented back to the early 1800s. Here are some sites that visitors to Hastings should not miss:

Oliver’s Grove
In the winter of 1890–1820, Lieutenant William G. Oliver commanded a detachment guarding supplies, and he left his name on a tree near his campsite. In 1833, a trading post, important to the fur industry, was opened at the same site. Today the spot is known as Oliver’s Grove.

Lock & Dam No. 2
This lock and dam is part of the canal lock system that stretches along the Mississippi River from Minneapolis to St. Louis. It was originally built in 1907, but the walls settled and began to lean, so a replacement had to be rebuilt and was completed in 1948. Through a partnership between the City of Hastings and Hydro Green Energy, LLC, Lock and Dam No. 2 now includes a commercial, federally licensed, hydrokinetic power facility, the nation’s first.

Pioneer Room at City Hall
Staffed by volunteers, the Pioneer Room holds the historic records for the town and its citizens. Here, visitors can find artifacts, historical photos, genealogical records, newspaper archives, and other reference materials. Hastings tutors and teachers can visit this site with their students to dig deep into the city’s history.

LeDuc Historic Estate
This Civil War mansion, built by General William G. LeDuc, was completed in 1865. Its last owner used it as an antiques shop until the mid-1990s, when it was acquired by Dakota County Historical Society, restored, and turned into a museum. The home is also available for tours, meetings, parties, and weddings.

Birding
The first official Bird City Minnesota, the City of Hastings maintains thirty-three sites where people can watch birds. Nearly 40 percent of North America’s waterfowl species and 50 percent of its bird species spend a portion of their lives in the Mississippi Flyway, and four Audubon-sanctioned “Important Bird Areas” and five state “Scientific and Natural Areas” are located in Hastings or nearby. The designation allows protection of these areas and promotes finding new and interesting bird species.

Trails
Hastings has an incredible twenty-eight miles of trails, the highlight being a ten-mile, paved walking and biking trail that that crosses the Mississippi River, meanders along the banks of the Vermillion River, and provides a rest break at the beautiful Vermillion Falls Park with its 35-foot Vermillion waterfall.

With its historic buildings, scenic trails, riverfront recreational areas, and old-fashioned charm, Hastings is a wonderful place to explore. For the town’s young residents, a Hastings tutor can provide the academic support needed to create the extra hours needed to explore and enjoy this beautiful river town!