The location of this photo might be better described as "Washington Street, between Front and First, looking east." The three-story building to the left is at the northwest corner of Front and Washington Streets. This is where the Columbian Hotel stood in the early 1860s. The building has been known by several names, such as the Jeff Carter Building, after the original owner, and the Smith & Woodward Block, named for Wm. K. Smith and Geo. Woodward, later owners who remodeled or rebuilt it into a three-story structure. It was also referred to as the "Stuart House" and the "New Market Hotel," in reference to the rooming house that occupied the top two floors. It was only two stories high when The Oregonian used the building as its home between 1863 and 1872.

At the far right of the picture, in the foreground, are two rusticated columns and one smooth, unfluted classical column, which are part of the north wall of the First National Bank Building at the southeast corner of First and Washington Streets. Behind the bank building is the Parrish Building, constructed in 1864, at the southwest corner of Front and Washington Streets.

Across Front Street stands a two-story building occupying the lot where the American Exchange Hotel once stood. The Hon. Joseph S. Smith had this building constructed in 1878. A sign at the top of the building reads "DIXON, BORGESON & CO. - SHOW CASES," while the sign below says "SCHWAB BROS. PRINTING & LITHO. CO." (lithography).