Ken Burns celebrates 45 years in his creative sanctuary

Ken Burns, the award-winning filmmaker, has resided in the same New Hampshire home for 45 years. He originally moved from a fifth-floor walk-up apartment in Manhattan to this white colonial house in Walpole, New Hampshire, due to a significant rent increase that posed a financial burden for a budding filmmaker. This move in 1979 allowed him the breathing room to focus on his passion without the immediate need for a day job, which threatened to take away from his creative pursuits. The serene landscape, surrounded by electric green hills and an apple orchard, not only provided a picturesque setting but also financial freedom that nourished his film projects. Despite numerous renovations to the house over the years, Burns takes pride in the fact that his bedroom, where his daughters were born, remains unchanged, aside from a new mattress. This stability and comfort in his personal life have contributed to his ability to create iconic films that have challenged the industry’s expectations. His roots in this small town have allowed him to produce documented works that many initially dismissed, highlighting the role of home as a sanctuary for artistic development, which is often overlooked in discussions about a filmmaker's success. Today, Ken Burns reflects on how this piece of land and the life he built around it have significantly impacted his career and forms the foundation of the legacy he continues to build through his films.