The artwork depicts a view of the City of Detroit from the Canadian shore near the ferry. The scene includes numerous ships and steamers on the river, with their sails and flags unfurled. The horizon is set low, with the cityscape and skyline of Detroit stretching across the middle of the image, showing buildings and church spires. The sky above contains a mix of clouds and blue sky. Close to the foreground, a group of people, including a child and a dog, are observing the activity on the water. The color palette includes blues, greens, and browns, with red and white in the flags. The brushstrokes are detailed and precise.