The last reason why I think Thomas Edison is great American is because he invented the first motion picture camera. “Thomas Edison’s interests in motion pictures began before 1888; however, the visit of Eadweard Muybridge to his laboratory in West Orange in February of that year certainly stimulated his resolve to invent a camera for notion pictures.” (Bellis) “Muybridge proposed that he and Edison combine the zoopraxiscope and the phonograph.” (Bellis) Edison declined the offer because he believed there was a better way to record motion. “On October 17, 1888 Edison filed a caveat with the Patents Office describing his ideas to invent a machine that will do for the eye what the phonograph does for the ear.” (Bellis) This showed that Edison had confidence in himself to create a device without yet planning the invention out.