In 1983, the Smithsonian American Art Museum began collecting photographs. Today they have over 7000 images and this website offers a wonderful exploration of but a few of their holdings. The title of this collection refers to Walt Whitman's belief that photography was a quintessentially American activity, rooted in everyday people and ordinary things. The visual delights here are divided into four sections, including American Characters and Imagination at Work. Each section contains a brief narrative introduction and then a scroll board of images for visitor consideration. The American Inhabited area includes a number of dramatic vistas of infrastructure and harbors, right next to more common objects, like a child's tricycle. Additionally, the site contains a visual timeline and a glossary of terms.