Support us

When you give to the Friends Society of the Sir Alexander Galt Museum & Archives, you help keep southwestern Alberta’s stories alive, accessible, and meaningful for generations to come. The Galt Museum & Archives, and Fort Whoop-Up are more than places to visit; they are gathering places where students, families, researchers, newcomers, Elders, knowledge keepers, and community members connect with the people, events, cultures, and landscapes that have shaped this region.

A gift to the Friends through the Friends of the Galt Endowment Fund supports enduring, inspirational, engaging, social and multigenerational experiences at The Galt.

Your gift provides others an opportunity to discover the stories that shaped Lethbridge and southwest Alberta. There are strong stories of the past here. Generations of visitors to The Galt have witnessed their stories and the stories of others that have shaped who we are as individuals and a community.

Endowment funds permanently invest your gift as principal and provide generated investment income dividends as support to The Galt.

Donate here to The Friends of the Galt Endowment, via the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta.

Impact

Every year, thousands of learners take part in curriculum-linked education programs, public programs, exhibitions, experiences, and community events through The Galt. These experiences help students and visitors explore and understand Lethbridge and southwestern Alberta through artifacts, archival records, oral histories, Indigenous perspectives, local stories, and hands-on learning.

Your donation gift helps remove barriers to participation, supports inclusive and engaging learning, and ensures that the region’s collections, stories, and memories continue to be preserved and shared.

Your donation gift is an investment in curiosity, connection, and community.

Donate here to The Friends Society of the Sir Alexander Galt Museum & Archives, via Canada Helps.

Donations over $20 are eligible for a Charitable Donation tax receipt. Every dollar of your gift directly supports The Galt.

History

• 1964: A civic museum was opened and the collection, obtained after a call to the community, was displayed in three rooms of the former Bowman Elementary School

• 1967: The civic museum relocated and reopened its doors to visitors as the Sir Alexander Galt Museum in the former Galt Hospital

• 1971: The first employee was hired and, until this date, the Lethbridge Historical Society operated the museum with volunteers

• 1980: A formal archives program was started

• 1985: Museum expansion occurred and program staff was hired to develop and deliver programs and activities to the public

• 1997: The Galt Museum received an extensive Japanese Canadian collection (the Kogawa Collection), which adds to the many unique and treasured objects in our care

• 2006: The grand reopening of a redesigned space for the community took place on May 6, 2006

• 2009: The Friends of the Galt Endowment was established

For more than 120 years, area residents have recognized the value of historical documentation. As of 2025, the museum cares for nearly 20,000 artifacts, 2,500 books, 1,500 recordings and over 1 million archival documents and photographs, and these collections continue to grow.