The video begins with a blurry image of a map, which then transitions into a clear and detailed illustration of New York City in 1872. The image is a bird's-eye view of the city, with buildings, streets, and waterways clearly depicted. The color palette is primarily earth tones, with reds, browns, and greens dominating the buildings and landscape. The waterways are filled with various ships and boats, indicating the city's bustling maritime activity. The illustration is labeled with the year "1872" and the location "Beekman St. N.Y." at the bottom. The video zooms in and out, providing different perspectives of the cityscape.