The River Heritage Foundation, Inc. was incorporated by the Propeller Club of the United States Port of New Orleans as a charitable and non-profit organization to primarily assist in organizing and supporting a Louisiana State Maritime Museum in New Orleans.

This work is in partnership with the Louisiana State Museums and Board of Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans for the historical and scientific study and historical presentation of the great Port of New Orleans, the Mississippi River, pilotage on the river, other international and offshore waterborne commerce and industry and the ship building and repairing industry.

Effective January 2011, the Foundations was approved as a 501(c) (3) tax exempt organization.