This image provides a northwestern view of the Mississippi River and the city of St. Louis, Missouri from the banks of East St. Louis in Illinois. In the foreground, on the eastern edge of the river, laborers are shown working in an industrial area. Both sides of the Mississippi River were inundated with industry. Laborers utilized steam power, hydraulic power, and a small railroads to benefit business. Several steamboats of various sizes traversed the river and traveled north under the Eads Bridge. In the distance the city of St. Louis was shrouded in a thick cloud of coal smoke. Coal was the primary source of energy used in the city during the 19th century. The image was Drawn by Schell and Hogan, taken from a sketch by C.A. Vanderhoof and published in Harper's Weekly.
A photograph taken by Marine Co. documented the damage in St. Louis from a severe flood on June 18, 1858. The streets were completely covered in water and make-shift planks provided a safe walking platform for people to safely cross from boats to the semi-submerged buildings. Two people can be seen assessing the flood damage from the rooftop of the tallest building on the left of the photograph, while others on the right stand safely on the deck of a steamboat..