The concept of Heritage Harbor Museum was developed and advanced by concerned individuals and a consortium of historical and cultural organizations in the mid-1980s as a means of promoting Rhode Island history. Through the 1990s, the consortium began making plans for a statewide history museum. In 1996, the group formed the Heritage Harbor Museum Corporation as a not-for-profit organization to advance the development of the museum. The founding organizations, which helped to pave the way for Rhode Island's first statewide history museum and cultural center, included:

• The American Diner Museum
• Portuguese Cultural Foundation, Inc.
• The Rhode Island Black Heritage Society
• The Rhode Island Historical Society
• Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association
• Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural History
• The Italian American Historical Society, Inc. of RI
• Providence Jewelry Museum
• The Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame
• Rhode Island Indian Council, Inc.
• The Rhode Island Military Collection
• The Steamship Historical Society of America, Inc.

They were followed by:

• The Armenian Historical Association of RI
• Hellenic-American Historical Society of RI
• India Museum and Heritage Society
• Rhode Island Irish Famine Memorial Committee
• German American Heritage Harbor Association
• Hispanic Cultural Society of Rhode Island
• Muslim Heritage Council
• Tolerance Education Center and Museum

Other cultural and themed groups included: Cape Verdean, Lebanese, Swedish, Syrian-American, Turkish, Rhode Island Reds, and the Nursing Heritage Preservation Committee of the Rhode Island Hospital Nurses Alumni Association.