Galt Museum & Archives facts for kids

Galt Museum & Archives
Akaisamitohkanao’pa

Exterior of the Galt Museum & Archives shortly after sunrise.
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Established	1964; 61 years ago (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 Akaisamitohkanao’pa is a super interesting place to learn about history in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. It's the biggest museum in southern Alberta. The museum keeps more than 20,000 historical items. It also has over 300,000 old documents and photos. These items tell the story of Lethbridge and southern Alberta. About 50,000 people visit the Galt Museum every year!

History of the Galt Museum

People in Lethbridge started a group to study history in 1888. They mostly shared papers at meetings. They didn't focus much on collecting old items at first.

The First Museum in Lethbridge

The Gurney Museum was in the old Board of Trade building. It was open from 1944 until 1961.

In 1944, a man named Walter Gurney opened the city's very first museum. It was called Gurney's Museum. The building where it was located had an interesting past. It started as a simple bandstand in 1909. Later, it became a two-story building. The top floor was still a bandstand. The bottom floor had a glass front and was used by the Board of Trade.

The building was moved in 1911. Two new sections were added in 1912. In 1922, the building had a fire but was fixed. The Board of Trade moved out in 1944. Then, Walter Gurney and his wife leased the building. They opened Gurney's Museum there. The museum stayed open until 1961. The building was taken down on August 28, 1961. Many of its items then went to another museum in Coutts, Alberta.

The Galt Museum Opens

The first museum run by the city opened in 1964. It was in three rooms at the old Bowman Elementary School. George McKillop was the first person in charge, called the curator. The museum quickly needed more space. Within three years, it moved to the much larger former Galt Hospital. The Lethbridge and District Historical Society ran the Sir Alexander Galt Museum and Archives until 1971.

Expanding the Museum Space

In the early 1980s, the museum got bigger. It added more space for exhibits and storage. This new space allowed the museum to create new programs. It also meant they could have more temporary exhibits.

In September 2004, the museum moved its offices and collections. This was to make way for a big expansion project. The project cost $8.9 million. The City of Lethbridge, the Canadian government, and the Province of Alberta helped pay for it. The museum reopened on May 6, 2006. It was then renamed the Galt Museum & Archives.

This big renovation added some cool new areas. It included the Discovery Hall, a large exhibit center. This hall has a permanent exhibit called "Exploring Southwestern Alberta." It also features new temporary exhibits often. The museum also got a bigger store. Plus, it added the Galt Education Centre, a large space for learning.

A New Blackfoot Name

In 2022, the museum received a special Blackfoot name. Local Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) Elders Bruce Wolf Child and Mary Fox gave it the name Akaisamitohkanao’pa. This name means 'eternal gathering place'. Giving the museum this name is an important step. It shows the museum is working closely with the Niitsitapi community. It helps them walk together on a path of understanding and friendship.

Awards and Recognition

The Galt Museum has won many awards for its great work. In 2003, it won 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 received awards for its programs, exhibits, and how it manages its collections. Here are some of the awards it has won:

• Award of Merit for "History on Tap" program, Alberta Museums Association, 1991
• Programming–Exhibits Award for Akaitapiiwa–Ancestors Exhibit, Alberta Museums Association, 2003
• Marketing Excellence Award Finalist for Year of the Coalminer, Alberta Tourism Marketing Awards, 2004
• Marketing Partnership Award Finalist for Year of the Coalminer, Alberta Tourism Marketing Awards, 2004
• Tourism Partnership Initiative Award for Year of the Coalminer, Chinook Country Tourist Association, 2004
• Museums and Society Award for Year of the Coalminer, Alberta Museums Association, 2005
• Change and Innovation Award, Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, 2007
• Collections Award in Collections Management for Operation Homecoming, Alberta Museums Association, 2007
• Programming Award in the Exhibits Category for Auschwitz: The Eva Brewster Story, Alberta Museums Association, 2007
• Marketing Excellence Award for Auschwitz: The Eva Brewster Story, Chinook Country Toursit Association, 2007
• Community Organization Award, The Aboriginal Council of Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Aboriginal Awareness Week Planning Committee, 2011
• 5 Blooms for the Native Prairie Plants Garden at Galt Museum, Communities in Bloom, 2012
• Leadership Award for Engagement, Alberta Museums Association, 2013
• Award for Excellence in Museums Finalist, Governor General's History Awards, 2016