WHY A MUSEUM?
Historically
The dissemination of information regarding the flights of the airships
in 1926 and in 1928 has been influenced by the political situation in both
Norway and Italy, also Europe, at the time and during the following years.
The possibility to preserve information, sources, documents and artifacts
connected to these scientific journeys has been limited. Much has disappeared,
been forgotten, lost, not communicated, put a lid on or destroyed.
The impartation to the public in both Norway and Italy, not to say the whole world, has been characterized by misunderstandings and inaccuracies.
Nobile first became a hero, then a looser, Amundsen died and Nobile was
arrested. Many people lost their lives. Missing persons were not satisfactorily
searched for.
Politics, cultural differences and personal ambitions have made one of the most important episodes
in the history about the discovery of the world almost gone lost.
Because of the above, both information and artifacts are split up and located at different continents, also on private hands. It is a point to gather and collectively preserve the little that still is left. To gather the still existing information in a museum will secure a part of our cultural heritage, and make it possible to communicate it to the next generations.
Today
There is no permanent museum in the world about the airships “Norge” and “Italia”. Nor is there a museum in Norway that, in a satisfactory manner, depicts Amundsen’s flight with the airship “Norge”, nor his last journey in relation to the tragedy of “Italia”. In Svalbard, especially in Ny Ålesund from where the flights departed, the information is incomprehensibly scarce.
WHY IN SVALBARD
- This part of history took place here
- The events are a part of the local history
- From the Svalbard Treaty, Svalbard is international territory, and the museum shall communicate historical events that have had international importance and resonance.
- The airships “America”, “Norge” and “Italia” all started from Svalbard
- The most comprehensive rescue operation in the Arctic took place north east of Nordaustlandet, Svalbard
- It shall be a forum based on international sources
- A neutral arena for exchange of knowledge and interest.
- Can contribute in the communication of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and the Arctic areas, both nationally and internationally
- Is in line with the development of Longyearbyen and Svalbard
- Will enhance the cultural side of Longyearbyen
- Will contribute to the local economic life
- The countries involved will have a unique chance to represent themselves through such a museum. They have all signed the Svalbard Treaty.
- Will complement the existing Svalbard Museum
- Svalbard is a tourist attraction, every year increasing in popularity. Approximately 70 000 people visit the archipelago yearly, whereof about 53 000 visit Longyearbyen. The visitors arrive from a number of different nations. The ”Svalbard Museum” had in 2005 about 18 000 visitors. This number is considerably higher in 2006, since the museum moved into new and larger premises.
WHY OPENING IN 2008
- It is 80 years since the tragedy of the “Italia”
- It is 80 years since the death of Roald Amundsen
- It is 30 years since the death of Umberto Nobile
- It is the International Polar Year (IPY)
