This watercolour captures the Carolina Inn, the historic hotel that has been called “the University’s living room” since opening in December 1924. Built by UNC alumnus John Sprunt Hill and designed by architect Arthur C. Nash, the inn was inspired by George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Southern plantation architecture. Its red-brick Colonial Revival facade, with the distinctive two-story portico, cupola, and roof balustrade, has welcomed generations of Tar Heels, presidents, and visitors to Chapel Hill. Hill donated the inn to UNC in 1935, with profits supporting the University Library’s North Carolina Collection.
 
Interesting facts…
 
The inn stands on the site of the original “Chapel on the Hill” that gave the town its name in the 1700s. John Sprunt Hill conceived the idea after a restless night in 1921, unable to find decent lodging in Chapel Hill for a board meeting. The inn was the first Southern Colonial-styled hotel in America, pioneering a style that blended Georgian, Neoclassical, and European influences. Notable guests have included every UNC president since 1924, five U.S. presidents, and celebrities from Bob Hope to Julia Child. The inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains the only hotel located on the UNC campus. It celebrated its centennial in 2024, having served over 100 years of continuous operation.
Location: 211 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA