Published by the Lanward Specialty Publishing Co., Chicago, this print highlights several of the more prominent buildings and neighborhoods of Kansas City as it appeared in 1855. The bird's-eye views include a centrally positioned an image of the Missouri River with buildings on one bank and a Native American settlement on the other bank, between the two move the riverboats. The buildings identified in this piece include the Warder Grand Opera House, Kansas City Times Building, National Agricultural Exposition Building, Board of Trade, Independence Avenue M.E. Church, and The Midland Hotel. The neighborhood of focus is located on Independence Avenue.

Somewhere along the way the original print was torn along the right side and reconnected. These "tears" and crinkles are visible to the viewer in the Midland Hotel section and the Independence Avenue M.E. Church section.

Located centrally along the bottom is a blank space and in the scroll flourish written in pencil is "Kansas City in 1855". Penciled in the bottom right corner is "La. Chi.", perhaps referencing the Lanward Publishing Co. of Chicago.