The White River Valley Museum and Mary Olson Farm received three grants from 4Culture, King County’s cultural services agency.

The funds total $75,000 and will be applied toward improvements and operations, the museum’s award-winning programs and exhibits, and completing restoration efforts at Mary Olson Farm.

The first grant for $25,000 was awarded by 4Culture’s Heritage Capital Facilities program. Funds will help restore the landscape, gardens and century-old orchard at Olson Farm. The second grant for $10,000 will be used to complete restoration of the historic outbuildings at the farm.

The museum is working with the City of Auburn to restore Olson Farm, the most intact 1880s family farm in King County. It opens in 2009 as a living history and environmental learning site.

The farm is a King County Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. Significant features include an 1897 barn, a 1902 farmhouse and two salmon runs in Olson Creek.

The third grant awarded by 4Culture totals $40,000 and will be installed in $20,000 increments over two years. Funds will help sustain the museum’s overall operations and programs. The museum shares first place for this award with the Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle’s Chinatown/International District.

“The White River Valley Museum is one of the best local history museums in the county,” said Jim Kelly, director of 4Culture. “We recognize the excellence of the work they do in telling the story of the White River Valley. That’s what sustained support is all about.”

In addition to the grants, the museum’s Free Wednesday Drive funds free admission to the museum every Wednesday.

Free Wednesday Drive sponsors include Auburn Soroptimists, Kiwanis Club of Auburn, Kim Anardi, DDS, Rio Verde Golden “K” Kiwanis Club, Judge Pat Burns of the Auburn Municipal Court, Auburn VFW Post, Denny Holt & Associates Inc., Auburn Sons of Italy Lodge #1955, Jason E. Cole of J.D. Edwards Commercial Real Estate, William Sutton, DDS, Take and Alice Hama, Sara and Kenny Beyersdorf, and Ronnie and Rosetta Beyersdorf Family.

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