A barge or ferry is docked on the river by a small cluster of buildings. It is tentatively identified on the back as Specht's Ferry just north of Dubuque.
A path has been made by two wheels going through the snow, curving away to the right. There is a forest to the left of the tracks and a snowy hill to the right.
Approximately seven people are standing on the chunky ice of the frozen river, four of the boys huddled together. There is a rail bridge in the back left.
A crowd of people are ice skating on the ice harbor in Dubuque. The photograph is shot to that both the city on the shoreline and riverboats on the frozen river are visible.
The photograph is shot looking north along White Street at the intersection of 12th; there is a house on the left and St. John's Lutheran Church on the right. An electric streetlight hangs overhead.