Aside from preserving and interpreting history of southwest Alberta, the Galt Museum & Archives [formerly the Sir Alexander Galt Museum and Archives] has a great history itself

Annotated History

• In October 1888, a Scientific and Historical Society was formed in Lethbridge. There was some talk of preserving records but the emphasis was mostly on bi-weekly meetings at which papers were presented.
• It wasn't until 1944, when Walter Gurney opened a private museum in the former Board of Trade building, that Lethbridge had its first museum. Gurney amassed a collection of oddities and curios. Eventually, this museum was closed and a majority of the artifacts went on display at the private Altamont Museum in Coutts, Alberta.
• In 1963, the city acquired the Bowman Elementary School and George McKillop took the responsibility of being the museum's first curator.
• In 1965, the first civic museum opened its doors in Lethbridge. The museum quickly outgrew its three rooms at the Bowman School and relocated to its present facility at the Galt Hospital.
• After considerable renovation, the Sir Alexander Galt Museum opened its doors in 1967.
• The historical society operated the museum with volunteers until 1971.
• Through the efforts of many people, the Galt Museum was placed in the Urban Parks Program in the early 1980s and the museum expanded once more.
• Reopened in 1984, new gallery space and expanded storage space allowed the museum to develop new programs and temporary exhibits, and to care for its collections in a manner that meets accepted standards of museum practice.
• In September 2004 the Galt Museum moved its offices and collections off-site to facilitate a second expansion which reopened on May 6, 2006.

Lethbridge History

A comprehensive description can be found on:

Detailed History

The Galt Museum in Lethbridge is an established cultural leader in southern Alberta, having contributed to the fabric of the region since the 1964. Its consistently high-calibre, award-winning exhibits and learning opportunities have drawn over 50,000 visitors a year.  Extensive collections, professionally administered archives and a variety of ongoing interpretive programs and events ensure that people are compelled to keep coming back to make that important connection between themselves and their regional history.

Some attempt had been made to preserve the history of Lethbridge by the Scientific and Historical Society formed in 1888 and by a private museum of oddities.  It was not until 1964, however, that Lethbridge had its first civic museum – three rooms in the former Bowman Elementary School (now Bowman Arts Centre) where it quickly outgrew its space. It relocated to the former Galt Hospital and, after considerable renovation, the Sir Alexander Galt Museum opened its doors in 1967.  The Lethbridge and District Historical Society operated the museum with volunteers until 1971.  The Galt Museum was placed in the Urban Parks program in the early 1980s and expanded once more.

Though the museum and its collections are owned by the City of Lethbridge, the facility is governed by a City-appointed volunteer Board of Governors.  The Galt is respected in Alberta’s museum community, has a growing national profile, and is committed to international museum standards.  In 2004 – the last year of full operations prior to the expansion – 219 volunteers donated 8,887 hours of time and talents to enhance the work of eight full-time and five part-time staff. The history of Lethbridge and southwest Alberta can be explored by the Galt’s rotating world-class exhibitions, special events and weekend programs.  The Galt cares for a growing collection of over 20,000 artifacts and 300,000 archival documents and photographs.