Each card back (as well as the book cover) includes a colored picture of the American eagle symbol, clouds, a covered wagon, USA, etc. The back of the cards is pictured in the lower right of the photograph. There are also two jokers with portraits of Uncle Sam (pictured upper right). Standard international suit symbols are used on each card. Each suit represents a domestic period in US history- and this is noted on the left side of each card:

In the center of each card is a reproduction of a historical personage from the designated period. For example, the King of Diamonds is Abraham Lincoln, the Queen of Hearts is Clamity Jane, and the Jack of Spades is Tom Paine. Each person’s name is printed below their portrait. The cards are larger than a standard deck of playing cards; they are 12.1cm long x 8.3cm wide.