[citation needed] It was co-founded by the Italian Stefano Poli and the Norwegian Ingunn Løyning.

Several descendants of Nobile, and of Roald Amundsen who died during the rescue of the Italia crew, attended the opening ceremony, which was held on 15 November 2008.

[5] There is a long history of aviation in modern Svalbard, documented by the Spitsbergen Airship Museum.

Exhibits include artefacts from, and information relating to, several major expeditions carried out during the exploration of the Arctic region.

The museum's collection includes a ribbon granted to Nobile by Benito Mussolini, parts of the Norge logbook, aircraft models, international newspaper clippings, and other various objects connected to the expeditions.