Miracle Road
The Story of Research Triangle Park
by Allen Paul and Mack Paul
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"Few places have shaped how we think about cities, talent, and innovation as profoundly as Research Triangle Park, and no one has told its full story until now.”
— Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class
The Hard-Won Rise of America's Largest Research Park
Miracle Road: The Story of Research Triangle Park is the definitive history of how a coalition of governors, university presidents, businessmen, scientists, and community leaders transformed one of the nation's poorest states into a global high-tech powerhouse.
Based on more than 160 exclusive interviews conducted over four years, Miracle Road traces RTP's origins in the 1950s through its emergence as a worldwide model for research-driven economic development. Authors Allen Paul and Mack Paul chronicle four distinct eras of the park's growth: its rocky founding and near-collapse before IBM's landmark 1965 decision to build there; the rise of iconic companies like Burroughs Wellcome; the setbacks of the dot-com era; and RTP's current transformation into a mixed-use innovation hub drawing Apple, Fidelity, and top biomanufacturers.
More than just a regional history, the book brings to life the remarkable people and discoveries that shaped the region, including:
Black community leaders in Wake County who successfully argued that school desegregation would make the region more appealing to tech companies, helping North Carolina land IBM over Virginia.
A chance meeting between Governor Jim Hunt and a Danish pharmaceutical executive that led to Novo Nordisk making North Carolina the epicenter of weight-loss drug manufacturing.
The discovery of the cancer drug Taxol in the bark of a Pacific yew tree by Monroe Wall and Mansukh Wani at the Research Triangle Institute.
Mary-Dell Chilton, the "godmother of ag biotech," leading the creation of the first transgenic plant in 1983.
"Discover how North Carolina defied the odds, transforming from 'brain-drain' state to global technology titan. Read firsthand accounts of the Triangle’s evolution. . . . A must-read!" — Timothy Humphrey, Provost at Wake Technical Community College
A Shared Vision.
A Global Legacy.
Our Journey Together
Writing this book was a collaborative effort with my dad, and completing it together was a profound gift to us both. We had vastly different approaches to writing. My dad approached his subject as a journalist and storyteller, always looking for the narrative pulse. I tend to be a policy wonk, interested in the deeper meaning of events.
Together, these styles have produced something very unique. We wanted to capture the human element and attract a general audience while convincing readers that RTP is a blueprint worth learning about. Fortunately, we deeply respected what each of us brought to the table.
Though my dad recently passed away, this book stands as a testament to our shared journey, our mutual respect, and his incredible storytelling legacy. I am so proud to share this history with you.
— Mack Paul
Allen Paul (1939–2026) was a journalist and speechwriter whose previous books include Katyn: Stalin’s Massacre and the Triumph of Truth and College Sports on the Brink of Disaster.
Allen Paul
Mack Paul cofounded Morningstar Law Group and teaches land use law at NC State and NC Central University. He served as chair of the Greater Triangle Regional Council.
Mack Paul
Contact
Miracle Road is ultimately a story about people and collaboration, and the conversation certainly doesn't end with the final page of the book. We would absolutely love to hear from you!
Please feel free to reach out if you:
Have an RTP story to share.
Want Mack to come speak to your organization about RTP’s history,
Are a member of the media with a question about the region's history, the "Big Push Model" of economic development, and the ongoing legacy of the Triangle.
Simply fill out the form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible!