The Michigan Women's Studies Association (MWSA), an academic professional organization, was founded in 1973 on the campus of Michigan State University to change what is thought and taught about women, particularly Michigan women, in schools, colleges, and universities. As an extension of that mission, the organization decided to establish a museum dedicated to women's history: the first of its kind in the nation.

To house the museum, MWSA acquired a lease on the city-owned Cooley-Haze House  in 1980 on the condition that the building be brought up to code. By 1986, $180,000 had been raised in building funds and work was begun on the renovation.

The Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame was dedicated and opened to the public on June 10, 1987, the anniversary date of Michigan's ratification of the Women's Suffrage Amendment. Since the opening, the Historical Center has encouraged Lansing's efforts to restore Cooley Gardens, and is now surrounded by a beautiful garden and picnic area.

The Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame displays cultural and historical exhibits on the accomplishments of Michigan women and maintains a library of materials on this subject. The Center is also home to the Belen Gallery in which the work of Michigan women artists is shown. Its Friends group serves as a source of volunteers and as a fundraising organization, its primary benefit being the "Picnic on the Lawn" in June. 

Every October, an MWSA benefit honors new inductees to the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame at a site alternating between southeast Michigan and the Lansing area. Between eight and 10 women, past and present, are welcomed into the Hall each year. Plaques honoring those women are displayed in the Historical Center's Hall of Fame Gallery; the same information may be found online at www.michiganwomen.org. Past honorees include former Lieutenant Governor Connie Binsfeld, Grace Lee Boggs, Betty Ford, Aretha Franklin, Gwen Frostic, Governor Jennifer Granholm, Rosa Parks, Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Helen Thomas, Lily Tomlin, and Mother Waddles.