Bodmer produced a finished watercolor of an Illinois homestead after his return to Europe. Based on earlier studies obtained during the winter of 1832-331 this view may have been intended for inclusion in the series of aquatints illustrating Maximilian's travel account, but it did not appear in the published atlas of 1839-43.

On the whole, Maximilian was not favorably impressed with the frontier settlements in Illinois, commenting in his journal, "By way of settlement we may preserve here in America neither the aborigines nor the wild beasts because the beginning of settlement is always the destruction of everything." Maximilian reckoned that within ten years neither deer, wolves, nor wild turkeys would be seen in the area, adding, "The elks, bears, and beavers have already vanished, and the rest will follow soon."

Before sunup on July 25, Maximilian and Bodmer set out for Bethlehem, at that time a settlement of about a thousand persons located on the stage line between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. On the evening of his arrival, Maximilian met a German physician, Lewis Saynisch, who accompanied him on several outings in the area. At Bethlehem, Bodmer occupied himself with sketching various points of local interest.

A busy commercial center, Helvoet was situated on either side of a shipping chanel used by merchant craft and warships of the Dutch Navy. Farms and gardens occupied the surrounding lowlands. Again on May 16th, Bodmer sketched a view of a farmer's house during an afternoon excursion into the countryside.