1874 - Nicholas Sheran discovers coal at the coal banks and establishes the first commercial coal mining business
1882 - The Galt family establishes the North Western Coal and Navigation Company. William Stafford and Nicholas Bryant pick the coal banks as the company's primary location, and large scale mining begins.
1884 - Alberta Railway and Coal Company is formed. Construction begins on the railway between Dunmore and Lethbridge (the turkey trail)
1885 - The first train rolls into Coalbanks on August 25th. On October 15th, the mining community known as Coalbanks officially becomes Lethbridge.
1888 - The Lethbridge Land Company is formed
1889 - The Alberta Railway and Coal Company absorbs the North Western Coal and Navigation Company.
1890 - On December 29th Lethbridge residents approve incorporation as a town.
1893 - Alberta irrigation Company is formed.
1904 - The Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company absorbs the Alberta Railway and Coal Company, the Alberta Irrigation Company, the Lethbridge Land Company, and the St. Mary's River Railway Company.
1912 - The CPR absorbs the Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company.
1957 - Galt mine No. 8 closes.
1965 - Galt mine No. 10, also known as the Standard mine, is the last mine to cease operations in the Lethbridge region.
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