This town gets its name from Hacı Bektaş-i Veli, who was born in the 13th century in Khorassan, on the border with today's modern day İran. Hacı Bektaş recieved his earliest education from Ahmet Yesevi, a learned thinker of that time.

Hacı Bektaş followed the Turkish migration routes from east to West, to arrive in Anatolia where he settlend in Hacimköy near Sulucajarahöyük. His arrival coincided with the political and economic deterioation of the Anatolian Selcuk state, during which time there was also a collapse in central aothority. During this time Hacı Bektaş travelled from city to city and village to village to promote Turkish unity. He made an effort to unite Turkish customs and culture with the İslamic faith, and worked hard to protect the Turkish language and culture from foreing influence and degeneration.

The artifacts, unearthed during the excavations carried out in the town center, from the Early Bronze Age, Hittite, phrigian, Helenistic and Roman Reriods are at display at the Archaeological Museum of Hacı Bektaş.

Hacı Bektaş-i Veli Museum
In the three court yarded complex housing the tombs of Hacı Bektaş-i Veli and Balım Sultan, three is also a mosque, bath house, kitchen, laundry, guest house and several fountains.

The külliye, which is now open to public as a museum, is consistedof 3 courtyards.

1st courtyard (Nadar)- Through a big arched door, one enters the first courtyard. To the right is '' Üçler Çeşmesi'', The fountain of the Three, builtin 1902. The bath house and the laundry are also in this courtyard.

2nd courtyard (Dergah-Dervish convent)- Entrance to this courtyard is by ''Üçler Kapısı'', the Gate of the Three. To the right of the gate is the Lion Fountain, built in 1554 and sent here from Egypt by the daughter of Kavalalı Mehmet Ali Pasha in 1875. Also in the courtyard are a mosque, built during the time of Mahmut II, the Ottoman Sultan, the guest house and the soup kitchen. At the basement of the cellar, adjacent to the chapter house, the valuables of the dergah and the food supplies were kept.

3rd courtyard ( Hazret -Presence )- Entrance is by ''Altılılar Kapısı'', The Gate of the six. Upon entry is the garden and to the right are the tombs of dervishes. Opposite these tombs is the turbe  (tomb) of Hacı Bektaş, built during the time of Orhan Gazi in a style displaying the features of Seljuk architecture. A marble gated decorated with Seljuk desings lead into the turbe. Çilehane, the cell where Hacı Bektaş underwent his ordeal and kırklar Meydanı, the Square of the forty are in this section.

Hacı Bektaş' tomb with a green sarcophogus, covered a green quilt and ornamented with candlestick, is embelished with engravings and written motifs.

To the east of Kırklar Meydanı, are the tombs of Horasan Erleri, The Khorassan Men, to the west are the tombs, believed to belong to the order's leaders and the tomb of Güvenç Abdal.

To the right of the Hazret Avlusu is a turbe built in 1519, housing the remains of Balım Sultan, Hacı Bektaş' successor.