This volume contains a wide variety of information about Indianapolis and also reveals a lot about mid-19th century life in Indiana. At least half of it more resembles an encyclopedia than a history or directory. The first 14 chapters make up a ‘history’ which is a lively account of the growth of Indianapolis, including many accounts of incidents and sketches of people, institutions etc. Beginning with chapter 15, the focus is on organizations and economic statistics at the time the book was written, although the authors continued to provide some historical background of the organizations.

There is no table of contents, but a short index at the beginning of the volume provides the topics. Unfortunately, half the pages are missing from the index. Index topics beginning with ‘N’ through ‘R’ are as follows:

-National Road
-Newspapers
-Old Settlers
-Odd Fellows (see Secret Societies)
-Parks
-Progress of the City, General View of
-Plan of the City
-Population
-Political
-Post Office
-Police
-Port Packing
-Prospects of the City
-Ra, Governor James B., Anecdote concerning
-Religious (see Churches)
-Real Estate, Early Prices of
-Railroads, First Charters [each of 13 railroads is dealt with separately]