Lethbridge museum exhibit explores Alberta’s prohibition era

Apr 24, 2026 | 3:05 PM

A new exhibition at the Galt Museum & Archives in Lethbridge is taking visitors back in time to when Alberta went dry, examining the social and political ripple effects of prohibition decades later.

Dried Out: Prohibition in Alberta, now on display, aims to explore the province’s 1915 ban on alcohol and the wide-ranging effects that followed.

“We’re very excited to be hosting this exhibition,” said curator Tyler Stewart.

“It features a really interesting part of Alberta history that many people are quite unaware of.”

Developed by the Provincial Archives of Alberta, the travelling exhibit is said to feature archival documents, photographs and artifacts illustrating how prohibition shaped everyday life.

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It was first shown in 2023 to mark 100 years of the repeal of prohibition in the province.

Organizers say the exhibition highlights how the temperance movement gained momentum in the early 20th century, fuelled by shifting social values and the impact of the First World War.

It also examines the unintended consequences of the ban, including the rise of illegal alcohol consumption and broader changes to law enforcement and governance, according to organizers..

“Today, there are liquor stores in every neighbourhood, and cannabis has been legalized for nearly a decade,” Stewart said.

“It’s really interesting to see how attitudes were different a century ago, and how things have changed since then.”

The museum hosted a media preview of the exhibition on Thursday (Apr. 23).

by Haven Thibert

Lethbridge museum exhibit explores Alberta’s prohibition era

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