Galt Museum & Archives facts for kids

Galt Museum

Exterior of the Galt Museum & Archives shortly after sunrise.
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Established	1964
Location	502 1st Street South Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Type	History museum
Accreditation	Alberta Museums Association
Visitors	50,000
Public transit access	5 Ave & Scenic Drive S

The Galt Museum & Archives is the main museum in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. It is the largest museum in Alberta located south of Calgary. The museum cares for a large collection of over 20,000 historical items. It also has 300,000 documents and photographs. These items help tell the story of Lethbridge and southern Alberta. More than 50,000 people visit the museum every year.

The Galt Museum's Journey Through Time

A group called the Scientific and Historical Society started in Lethbridge in October 1888. This group focused on sharing information at their meetings. They didn't do much to collect historical records at first.

The Gurney Museum operated from 1944 to 1961 in the old Board of Trade building.

In 1944, Walter Gurney opened the city's very first museum. It was called Gurney's Museum. The building it was in started as a simple bandstand. By 1909, it became a two-story building. It had a bandstand upstairs and a glass-fronted room downstairs. This ground floor area was used by the Board of Trade.

The building was first located in Galt Gardens. In 1911, it was moved to a new spot in the park. Two new sections were added in June 1912. In 1922, the building had a fire but was repaired. The Board of Trade used the building until 1944. Then, Walter Gurney and his wife leased it for their museum. Gurney's Museum stayed there until 1961. The building was taken down on August 28, 1961. Many of its items later moved to a private museum in Coutts.

The first public museum opened in 1964. George McKillop was its first curator. It started in three rooms at the old Bowman Elementary School. The museum quickly needed more space. Within three years, it moved into the renovated Galt Hospital building. The Sir Alexander Galt Museum and Archives was run by The Lethbridge and District Historical Society until 1971.

Growing Bigger: Museum Expansion

In the early 1980s, the museum grew even more. It added extra gallery space and more storage. This new space allowed for new programs and special exhibits.

In September 2004, the museum moved its offices and collections. This was to prepare for a big $8.9 million expansion project. The City of Lethbridge, the Canadian government, and the Alberta government helped pay for it. The museum reopened on May 6, 2006. It was then renamed the Galt Museum & Archives. This renovation added the Discovery Hall, a large exhibit area. It has a permanent exhibit called "Exploring Southwestern Alberta." It also hosts changing temporary exhibits. The renovation also included a bigger store and the Galt Education Centre.

Awards and Recognition

The Galt Museum has won many awards for its great work. In 2003, it received an award for its "Ancestors" exhibit. This exhibit was created with the Royal Ontario Museum and the British Museum in London, England.

The Galt Museum has also been recognized for its programs, exhibits, and how it manages its collections. Some of its awards include:

• Award of Merit for "History on Tap" program, 1991
• Programming–Exhibits Award for Akaitapiiwa–Ancestors Exhibit, 2003
• Marketing Excellence Award Finalist for Year of the Coalminer, 2004
• Museums and Society Award for Year of the Coalminer, 2005
• Change and Innovation Award, Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, 2007
• Collections Award for Operation Homecoming, 2007
• Programming Award for Auschwitz: The Eva Brewster Story, 2007
• Community Organization Award, 2011
• 5 Blooms for the Native Prairie Plants Garden, 2012
• Leadership Award for Engagement, 2013
• Award for Excellence in Museums Finalist, Governor General's History Awards, 2016