Hastings Museum Opens Kool-Aid Exhibit Celebrating the Drink's History
In Hastings, Nebraska, where Edwin Perkins invented Kool-Aid, the local museum has dedicated half a floor to the drink's history, displaying original packaging and the iconic Kool-Aid Man suit.
The Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History in Nebraska has unveiled a comprehensive exhibit titled "Kool-Aid: Discover the Dream," celebrating the origins and legacy of the powdered drink. The exhibit occupies half of the museum's lower level and chronicles the journey of inventor Edwin Perkins, who first introduced the beverage in 1927 under the name Fruit-Ade.
Perkins initially produced a flavored syrup called Fruit Smack, sold in glass bottles. However, frequent breakage and leakage prompted him to develop a powdered version, inspired by the process used for Jell-O. During the Great Depression, he reduced the price of a packet to five cents, leading to skyrocketing sales and profits that surpassed those at double the price.
Visitors to the exhibit can explore a nostalgic collection of historical packaging, advertisements, and discontinued product lines such as Kool-Aid bubble gum and sherbet packets. A fiber optic "river" representing the drink flows through the lower level, guiding guests through the displays. The original Kool-Aid Man suit is on view, though it is not expected to burst through any walls. Unfortunately, tasting the drink is not part of the experience.
