Some presidents were great, some were not. All of them were important. American presidents are some of the most controversial and powerful people in the world, shaping the course of history. But their portraits shape the way they are remembered. Both elicit strong and varied opinions.

These historical portraits, housed at the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., keep alive our memories of not only the U.S. presidents themselves but our idea of the American story. Is image everything? Join Smithsonian Channel s Picturing the Presidents and decide what you think is presidential.

Includes a 26 minute special feature documentary on George Washington and the tumultuous story that inspired the presidential portrait tradition.