This compact and illuminating volume brings together the faces of Americans who have made a profound mark on the history of the United States, from the nation's earliest days to the present. Selected from America's national museum of portraiture and biography, these influential figures include men and women from all walks of life, from political leaders and reformers to artists, athletes and superstars. Engaging commentaries about each person describe his or her contribution to American life and culture. With subjects as diverse as Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Louis Armstrong, Eleanor Roosevelt, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and John Steinbeck, this book offers a composite and compelling portrait of the American nation.