From prehistoric cave art to modern street murals in downtown Hastings, Minnesota, walls have always told our stories. Explore the epic global history, cultural significance, and digital future of murals — with a local twist that brings it all home.

From cracking enemy codes in WWII to guiding Hastings students who build robots after class, information theory has traveled an extraordinary arc. This feature unpacks Claude Shannon’s revolutionary “bit,” demystifies the math behind Wi-Fi and AI, tours the quantum-and-neural frontiers, and shows why these ideas matter right here on the Mississippi. Spoiler: the next tech breakthrough could start in a Hastings classroom.

Step onto the planked Spiral Bridge, breathe the scent of fresh‐baked bread downtown, and feel the jazz-age optimism that pulsed through Hastings in 1925. Our immersive feature paints a vivid, fact-rich portrait of faith, schooldays, river commerce, and community spirit that still echoes along the Mississippi today.

Discover life in 1900 Hastings, Minnesota, through the lens of the Schwartz family and their well-kept home at 510 E. Sixth Street. Nick Schwartz, a talented painter, and his wife Angeline raised five children in a house that reflects the resilience and charm of the era. Learn how this historic home and its story connect us to the rich heritage of Hastings.