Ken Burns

Ron Chernow Hamilton
The 2025 Liberty Medal

The National Constitution Center will honor Hamilton and Ron Chernow for their singular impact in bringing the story of the U.S. Constitution to life for generations of Americans and inspiring a deeper public engagement with the principles of the founding era.

For nearly half a century, Ken Burns has been a pioneering force in American documentary filmmaking. He has directed and produced some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made, including The Civil WarBaseballJazzThe WarThe National Parks: America’s Best IdeaProhibitionThe Roosevelts: An Intimate HistoryThe Vietnam WarCountry MusicThe U.S. and the Holocaust, and, most recently, The American Buffalo. His films have been honored with dozens of major awards, including 17 Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and two Oscar nominations. He is a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and a member of the Television Academy Hall of Fame. His upcoming projects include Leonardo da Vinci, airing November 2024, and The American Revolution, which will premiere in fall 2025.