Visiting the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina
Despite your religious background, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard of Billy Graham. This man has arguably influenced the country and individual lives more so than anyone else. Mr. Graham believes in his message that God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins to save us from hell, and he’s dedicated his life to spreading and promoting this message. Billy has been friends with some of the greatest men in our nation’s history, and has collected numerous memorabilia from his travels and friends. These memories can all be found in the Billy Graham Library, located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Perhaps the term “library” is a slight misnomer, as the facility is more of a museum–a tribute to Billy Graham’s life. On my first visit, I’ll admit I was expecting to be very bored, looking at a collection of books that either used to belong to him, or were perhaps written by him. Immediately upon arrival, however, I was intrigued with the library campus. The home that Billy grew up in is now located at the library site, and is open for visitors to tour. The home was moved brick by brick from its original location, a few miles away. That fact, in and of itself, earned raised eyebrows from me. Who moves a home brick by brick anymore?
After leaving the home, the visitor has a choice of walking through the prayer gardens, or entering the library, housed in what appears on the outside as a large barn. The prayer gardens offer a peaceful trail, complete with benches, which lead to Ruth Graham’s final resting place. Music is piped in in this area, allowing a very soothing and calming atmosphere for reflection.
Once you walk into the barn/library, a friendly and helpful library employee is waiting to greet you. She directs you over to right, where you’ll find Bessie the Cow. Bessie, you see, is a talking cow, and loves to tell the story of Billy Graham’s message. Children love listening to her (oh, who am I kidding–I loved listening to her as well!). Bessie is standing next to a cat, who sadly, doesn’t speak.
Be sure to grab tickets to enter into the “museum” area of the library. The tickets are free, but they are quite persistent about you having them in hand. Tickets can be requested at the information center, or online at the Billy Graham Library website. After a brief video introducing the influence Billy has had over several generations, another library employee scans your ticket, and you begin your walk through Billy’s life. Even those who do not agree with Mr. Graham’s message would have to be impressed by some of the items he has collected.
On display, among many other things, is a check payable for $5 to Billy Graham from Richard Nixon. The check is accompanied by a letter written by Richard Nixon, explaining that he had sat in a church service with Billy, and had to borrow $5 to put in the offering plate. He made good on the “loan” by mailing the check–which was obviously never cashed, as it’s now in the library! You will also find a Louisville Slugger baseball bat, given to Billy from Babe Ruth.
I was particularly intrigued with the display case of letters from children and others throughout the world, addressed to Billy. What amazed me is how some of the letters were addressed…some as simply as “Billy Graham, World”, some written as “Billy Graham, Heaven”, rather than the typical street address. Somehow, the postal service was able to correctly deliver these letters to the evangelist! Kudos are due here to our mail delivery system.
Awards from the military, letters from Presidents and world leaders, pieces of the Berlin Wall, and numerous other mementos can be found within these walls. The Billy Graham Library is about much more than just the man with a message; pieces of our nation’s history are housed here. As with all things related to Billy Graham, any visit to the library comes with a message. Gospel songs are played throughout your journey through these rooms, and Bible verses are prominently displayed. At the conclusion of your tour, you are met with a video of a “sermon” from one of the Billy Graham crusades.
I have “sermon” in quotes, as Billy’s messages never have fit with my definition of a sermon. With this word, most people have preconceived thoughts of being trapped in a church pew, listening to a pastor drone on and on, while checking their watches every five minutes to see how much time has passed. Not quite the case with Mr. Graham. His messages are incredibly simple. So simple that I had to do a mental double-check to make sure I hadn’t missed anything important. The entire message consisted of no more than five minutes. The truth. Nothing more, nothing less. Jesus died for you. Those words have never been so powerful as they are while you’re watching a crusade that’s drawn thousands of curious, seeking listeners.
Whether you’re searching for something that’s missing in your life, curious about the greatest evangelist since Paul himself in Biblical times, or simply in the Charlotte area and looking for a way to spend your afternoon, be sure to plan a trip to the library. Admission is free, and the facilities are open Monday through Saturday, from 9:30am to 5 pm. The library is located at 4330 Westmont Drive, Charlotte, NC 28217.
