The Colonial Inn has been a historical icon for decades. Located in the heart of downtown Hillsborough, North Carolina, the inn is well known for its grand columns, long stretched veranda, and southern-style food. Serving as a meeting place, boarding house, hotel, and restaurant, the centuries-old hallways have carried the echoes of laughter and cheers from the many celebrations and family-style meals. With gumption and resilience, the inn has survived days of war, fire, hurricanes, bankruptcy, and neglect. Rumors of the inn's extensive history have long since been told, from the hauntings of Cornwallis to the origination date of 1759. While some tales proved to be folklore, the inn has a great depth of stories to share, many of which are captured in this book.

Amanda Boyd is a freelance writer who lives among the pines of Durham, North Carolina, with her husband, Michael, and two dogs, Ozzie and Zooey. She credits her parents for her passion for history and love for books. Ron graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Visual Design. "I work in various mediums from watercolor to graphite to oil pastels, but my favorite is watercolor. I love the contrast between realism and the spontaneity of watercolor. I find inspiration from landscapes and animals; I especially enjoy painting old or interesting architecture." Ron has lived in the Raleigh area for 14 years and is now retired and lives in Hillsborough.

Cover art by Ron Weisenfeld.