2017 Ken Burns American Heritage Prize Recipient:
David McCullough

David McCullough has been acclaimed as a master of the art of narrative history. In the words of the citation accompanying his honorary degree from Yale,

“As an historian, he paints with words, giving us pictures of the American people that live, breathe, and above all, confront the fundamental issues of courage, achievement, and moral character.”

During his crowded, productive career, Mr. McCullough has been an editor, teacher, lecturer, familiar presence on public television, and narrator of numerous documentaries including The Civil War, one of many collaborations with Ken Burns. He is a two-time winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. His most recent book, the widely-praised "The Wright Brothers,"  was a #1 New York Times Bestseller and remained on the list for nine months. His book "1776" has been acclaimed “a classic,” while "John Adams,"  published in 2001, remains one of the most praised and widely-read American biographies of all time. 

Mr. McCullough’s other books include "The Johnstown Flood,"  "The Great Bridge,"  "The Path between the Seas,"  "Mornings on Horseback,"  "Brave Companions,"  "Truman,"  and "The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris." His books have been published in 19 languages and as may be said of few writers, none of his books has ever been out of print.