The notation on the bottom of the photo reads "Oakland, Cal.- Birdseye View looking toward the Bay" A typewritten notation affixed to the back of the photo reads "Birdseye View of Oakland (undated) Copy of old postcard No. 0508" The street stretching down toward the Bay could be Broadway, below where San Pablo joins it. In the scene there are many commercial buildings, warehouses, and stores, ranging from two- to four-storys tall. One building at left bottom belongs to Abrahamson's. Two church steeples are in the photo, one at at center right and another at center left. Horse-drawn carriages and wagons are on the street.