Since its birth in the late 19th century, American cinema has been one of the most powerful forms of popular art. American movies shape how the world sees us and how we see ourselves. The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is home to an extensive number of objects and images related to film and television history, and more are being digitized all the time. The National Portrait Gallery features notable stars of the big screen. The National Postal Museum houses commemorative stamps featuring icons of film.
