The photo of Fort Seward is superimposed with inspirational words including, “dream,” “enjoy,” “thanks,” and “smile.”

A mural-sized photo of Fort Seward is gaining national exposure for Haines, but in an anonymous way.

The black-and-white photo decorates the reception desk area of Hampton Inn hotels all over the country, but the scene is not identified. Instead, the only writing accompanying the photo is a superimposed, single-word inspirational message, alternately “explore,” “enjoy,” “dream,” “thanks,” and “smile.”

The photo became known through a Facebook post by former resident Micah True, a college professor who spotted it during a Hampton Inn stay on a recent family trip to Milpitas, Calif.

“I walked past it at least three or four times a day for five days and didn’t see it,” True said this week. “And then when we were checking out at 4 a.m., (my wife) Kim noticed the mountains and said, ‘Hey that kind of looks like Haines.'”

A former newspaper reporter, True searched the Internet and quickly found the photo at 24 Hampton Inns ranging from King of Prussia, Pa., to Airdrie, Alberta. Script at the lower edge of the photo, which may identify the photographer, appears pixilated and illegible.

Hampton Inn spokesperson Erin Pratt sent a brief email response to questions about the picture. “The photo that you are referring to was part of an approved image bank that Hampton designers and owners could select from as part of our Hamptonality on-property signage. The image bank has many landscape and cityscape photographs to choose from.”

On Tuesday, Clifvonne Kelly was working only her second day as desk clerk at the Hampton Inn in King of Prussia when the phoned about the photo. “I just got a comment on it today, actually,” she said. “They asked me where it was. Now I know.”

Haines Borough tourism director Carolann Wooton said she hadn’t yet seen the photo, but would like to post it on social media to help promote the town.

“Anytime we can call attention to the fact that Haines is in a position of prominence, it’s a good thing to do. We can say, ‘Look at us,'” Wooten said.

That the photo appears without identification doesn’t diminish its promotion value, Wooton said. “I’m sure (hotel guests) ask where (the photo) is. If we can get it on social media, that would be good for the hotel and good for us.”

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