PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A giant mural depicting scenes from Oregon’s storied history is showcased outside the Oregon Historical Society in Portland and the historic Sovereign Hotel nextdoor.

But as the hotel undergoes major renovations, an effort to save the invaluable mural is also in the works.

“People hear about the mural, they want to see it, they get photographs of it,” Kerry Tymchuck with the Oregon Historical Society said. “People really appreciate how unique it is.”

The Oregon Historical Society commissioned the mural in 1989 for $225,000. The artist, Richard Haas, is one of the most famous muralists in the world. Haas’ murals are in many major cities. They utilize the 3-D illusion style Trompe l’oeil, French for “deceive the eye”.

Here in Portland, Haas’ mural shows wagon trains, fur trader John Jacob Astor, the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1805, Sacagawea and her baby “Little Pomp”, the African Slave “York” and the Newfoundland “Seaman”.

The Oregon Historical Society sold the Sovereign Hotel, which previously housed apartments and offices, in 2014. It’s now undergoing a complete renovation, and the work is expected to damage the mural.

“Part of the sales agreement, however, with the purchaser of the building was that the mural would be restored to its original shape after the renovations,” Tymchuck explained. “So don’t worry, Portland… the mural will return.”

A team of artists is on stand-by, waiting to bring the mural back to its original glory.

The hotel renovations should be completed this fall.