On a morning when La Conner remained shrouded in wildfire smoke and haze, it was still possible to get a clear picture of the town.

Of course, you had to go indoors to do so.

The colorful, much celebrated Bob Patterson mural of La Conner was hung a week ago Monday inside Maple Hall, the venue chosen by Town officials so the public can easily view the detailed four-panel, 20-foot image, a nearly 700-hour project completed in 2014.

Town Public Works staff placed the mural at the balcony level of Maple Hall, facing the building’s main seating area, Town Administrator Scott Thomas said.

“The Town is pleased to see the paintings hung in a place where they can be enjoyed by many,” Thomas told the Weekly News. “This is not the first time that they have been broadly enjoyed. Previously they were displayed at Skagit Valley Hospital.”

The mural was exhibited at the Museum of Northwest Art on First Street in 2014.

Termed a masterpiece by Mayor Ramon Hayes, the mural was made available to the Town by the Patterson family earlier this year. The Town Arts Commission, along with its Town Council liaison, John Leaver, chose to have it hung in Maple Hall.

“That mural,” Hayes said then, “is definitely representative of the town. It’s a wonderful snapshot in time from 2014.”

His view hasn’t changed.

“It’s a treasure for the town and will remain so,” Hayes said Monday afternoon.

The vision of an enduring panoramic image of La Conner began coming into focus seven years ago, said Hayes.

“I had always wanted to see a comprehensive view of the waterfront,” recalled Hayes, “and so did Bob. I wanted to see it done and so did he.”.

Because of that collaboration and the availability of Maple Hall, the public will be able to see the mural well into the future.

“The (Patterson) family,” Hayes said, “absolutely wanted the Town to have it and presented in a prominent place.”

Now both boxes have been checked.