Apr 4 -Charlotte, NC -Billy Graham Library

 

Traveling again today, to Charlotte, North Carolina.

On the way Peter remembered seeing that there was a Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, in fact it sits just off to the side of Billy Graham Parkway. We decided to head over and check it out.

What a great visit. The home where Billy lived with his parents from the time he was 9 til he left home at 17 was available to tour but what was most fascinating was the barn. Peter loves barns and this one looks fantastic.

Before we headed over to the barn we stopped at Ruth Graham’s grave. She requested an inscription on her grave marker before she died. It says “End of Construction, thank you for your patience” There is an empty plot right beside her waiting for Billy who is currently 95 years old. The kids thought it was odd that Peter was taking a picture. What do you think?

Ruth's grave

The barn has you enter “at the foot of the cross” Inside you can see all of the timber frame with inscriptions on the beams. The size of the whole place is deceiving because as you walk thru the barn you enter into an exhibits building that take you through various parts of Billy’s life. Also in the barn is a café and a bookstore.

How many people do you know that could gather 3 US presidents, 2 past and one current, at the same time? George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton all came to the Library at the same time.

Billy  often said “you can write to me, just send it to Minneapolis, Minnesota and it will get to me”. Many samples of envelopes were on display from around the world that had arrived although the address was somewhat obscure.

At the beginning of the tour we were informed that the exhibits weren’t about Billy but about what God had done. The Billy Graham Library was true those words.

Remember you can click to enlarge

Interior of the barn. The exhibits are shown in the connecting buildings

Letters from around the world. Check out who they were addressed to.

Can you name the presidents?