This black and white photograph uses a ground-level perspective to look directly toward the sky. The brick Old State House sits at the bottom center of the frame, appearing small against the much taller skyscrapers that border every side. Because of the upward angle, these modern buildings lean inward, their straight edges pointing toward the central patch of sky and wispy clouds. The arrangement creates a ring of glass and steel around the historic museum.

The contrast in tones highlights the different ages of the architecture. The dark brickwork and the clock face of the 1713 landmark stand out against the lighter, reflective surfaces of the surrounding towers. Rows of windows create repeating rectangular patterns that lead the eye from the edges of the image toward the open space in the middle. While the skyscrapers dominate the height of the frame, the historic seat of the Massachusetts General Court remains the anchor at the base.