The nonprofit museum was founded by Giuliana Nardelli Haight on August 17, 1978, above Caffe Malvina in North Beach.[4][2][5] The first exhibition at the museum was paintings by Paolo Emilio Bergamaschi, alongside sculptures by Beniamino Bufano, Elio Benvenuto, and Peter Macchiarini.[4] The museum was briefly located on 678 Green Street in North Beach in the 1970s, before it moved again in 1985, to the Fort Mason Center.[2][6]
Although the museum always holds temporary exhibits, it also maintains a permanent collection, including works by Beniamino Bufano, Francesco Clemente, Sandro Chia, Mimmo Paladino, among others.[2] The museum also offers a number of Italian language classes, from beginner to advanced to casual conversation classes.