Women of Pride Panel Discussion

The Women's Museum of California is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1983 as the Women's History Reclamation Project. It was the life-long dream of its founder, Mary B. Maschal, and other women who realized that women were not included in the mainstream version of history. Mary B. Maschal spent a good part of her life collecting and preserving many historic artifacts that exemplify and document the life histories and achievements of many women, in both the United States and abroad. For years, she created a living museum of women's history in her own home, filling virtually every room with historic documents, banners, posters, and books. Mary and others also reached out into the community, offering lectures on women's history to school children, professional and social organizations, and community groups. In 1995, at the behest of family and friends, Mary opened her home (WHRP headquarters) to the public and held an exhibition of her vast collection. The enthusiasm over Mary's collection, generated by the Open House, and the need in San Diego for a museum dedicated solely to women and their stories brought forth a renaissance of the Women's History Reclamation Project. In 1996, the WHRP moved into the ART UNION Building in Golden Hill neighborhood of San Diego so that it could be open to the public on a permanent basis. In December of 2003 the WHRP changed its name to the Women's History Museum and Educational Center or WHM. In 2011, the WHM changed its name to the Women’s Museum of California with the tag line “preserving the past…inspiring the future”. Since 1996 the Women's Museum of California has blossomed into a full-fledged women's history museum and valuable educational resource. With the help of many volunteers, the WMC features a variety of changing exhibits and displays on women's history, sponsors a monthly membership lecture series (also open to the public), maintains a library and research archive, and provides speakers for the community through its Speaker's Bureau. The WMC is a co-founder and sponsor of the San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame.Directions: Google MapFrom I-15 South: I-15 South to I-8 West. EXIT Rosecrans Street. Left on Lytton. Right on Truxtun. Left on Sims. Right on Historic Decatur Road. Women's Museum of California will be on the Right hand side, Barracks 16. From I-5 Southbound: EXIT Rosecrans Street. Left on Lytton. Right on Truxtun. Left on Sims. Right on Historic Decatur Road. Women's Museum of California will be on the Right hand side, Barracks 16. From I-5 Northbound: EXIT Pacific Highway to Barnett. Left on Truxtun. Left on Sims. Right on Historic Decatur Road. Women's Museum of California will be on the Right hand side, Barracks 16. From Rosecrans Northbound: Right on Dewey. Left on Historic Decatur Road. Women's Museum of California will be on the Left hand side, Barracks 16.