The White River Valley Museum and the City of Auburn’s work to restore the Mary Olson Farm has been given the Best Restoration Award as part of Historic Seattle’s fourth annual Preservation Awards.

A selection committee of Historic Seattle staff and Council, and community members chose the project as an outstanding example of a restoration project.

The museum’s and the City’s restoration of the farm also has been named the Long Term Project Award by the Association of King County Heritage Organizations. The award is presented to an organization for an outstanding landmark restoration, ongoing or long-term project such as a video, slide show, oral history, development of a new organization, or similar long-impact or permanent projects.

Restoration of the farm began in 1994 when the City purchased the site with the intention of restoring it to serve as a specialty park. Since 2000 the museum has leased the farm, overseeing its restoration, fund raising and programming.

The 67-acre farm dates from 1879 when purchased by Alford Olson. Its complete assembly including seven fully restored historic buildings, a 100-year-old orchard, meadows, forests and stream have caused it to be called the best preserved example of a historic subsistence farm in the region.

The farm has been host to field trips for thousands of school children since 2005 and opened to the public in 2011. This summer the farm will be open for free on weekends, from noon to 5 p.m., June 16 to Aug. 26.

It also will be the site of the third annual Hops & Crops Festival, Sept. 15, and for other specialty events.

Visit the museum’s website, www.wrvmuseum.org for full program listings.