Historic Lethbridge Public Library

The Southern Alberta Art Gallery is a beautiful red brick building located next to the Galt Gardens. Here you can see art galleries by local and out-of-town artists. Before it became an internationally acclaimed art gallery, it was the first dedicated public library building in Lethbridge. After years of lobbying, a library was set up temporarily at the YMCA in 1919. In 1922, the Lethbridge Public Library was completed, becoming a place for community meetings and local readers. After World War II, there was increased patronage to the library leading to extensions to the main building as well as northside and southside branches built in 1956 and 1961 respectively. In 1974, the public library amalgamated the services from the three locations into one location where it stands today on 8th Street South.

In 1974, residents formed the Southern Alberta Art Gallery association to lobby city council to establish the gallery. The proposal was approved, renovations went underway, and the first exhibition was opened in 1976.