Sarah (Polak) Minshew joined the Hastings Museum as Curator of Collections in January 2025. With a deep passion for preserving cultural heritage, she brings a wide range of experience and expertise to the role. Sarah holds a History degree (B.A.) with an Art minor and a Business emphasis from Rockhurst University, as well as a Museum Studies degree (M.A.) from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she focused on 20th Century Cultural Collections Management.
Her diverse work experiences include The Museum of American Speed (Lincoln, Nebraska), the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center (Chadron, NE), the United States Marine Corps (Washington, D.C.), and the Louvre Museum (Paris, France).
As Curator of Collections, Sarah is responsible for more than 70,000 objects in the Museum’s collection. From taxidermy to textiles, clocks to historic firearms, and new items brought in, her job is to manage every item. Her work focuses on the administrative side of collections management, including legal compliance, research, documentation, and public engagement through artifact donations. She also leads Museum walking tours and plays an integral role in exhibit development, repatriation efforts, and the ongoing Collections Storage project.
Sarah’s favorite part of the job changes daily, but she’s especially enthusiastic about the Museum’s 1912 Rauch and Lang electric car. It is one of only 500 early American-made electric vehicles produced that year. She’s always happy to talk more about it if you ask!
Many visitors might be surprised to learn that the Museum holds special federal permits to legally house certain firearms and taxidermy, including items that private collectors are not allowed to possess. It’s just one of many behind-the-scenes complexities that make her job both challenging and rewarding.
Email Sarah at spolak@cityofhastings.org or call 402-461-2399.