The International Museum of Women, which began as the Women's Heritage Museum in 1985 with the mission of making women"s history known, has received funding from the state of California and enthusiastic support from the city of San Francisco in its plans to develop at a waterfront-site on the city's Pier 26. As a grassroots organization with the emphasis on local public programming, the Women's Heritage Museum provided the foundation upon which the International Museum of Women will be built.