It pictures the 1903 flood. The photograph was made looking north and west of the old bridge, which crossed the Missouri River. As far as can be seen water covers the entire river bend area, including what now is the Municipal Air Terminal.
Spectators watch the swirling flood waters from a high point of land just east of the bridge.
Others are gathered below at the old municipal dog pound, near the railroad tracks on the river bank. Twenty-two thousand persons were left homeless, all except 2,500 from the Kansas City, Kansas area. The West Bottoms, the East Bottoms, Armourdale and North Kansas City were covered with water. Several lives were lost and property damage was in the millions. It was the worst disaster that had befallen Kansas City.