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| - On my final full day in Charlotte, I was debating whether to go to the NASCAR Hall of Fame or the Billy Graham Library. I passed by the former every day that I was staying uptown. I'm not a huge NASCAR fan. Then again, I am not a strongly religious person, either. However, I chose visiting the Billy Graham Library. I am so glad that I did.
My dad watched Billy Graham preach the gospel on TV over the years. I have fond memories of watching them with him as a little girl. I remember at the end of each telecast that you could send your correspondence to an address in Minneapolis, MN. It's interesting that I would end up living in that state years later. The headquarters moved to Charlotte, NC, not too far from where Billy Graham was born and raised.
Charlotte has Billy Graham Parkway, which honours how important his contributions were both locally and globally. His library highlights how wonderful a person he was and his contributions on this planet.
I drove over to the library. There is plenty of parking at the library and admission is free.
When you walk over to the library, you see the Graham family house on the left, which was his childhood home. On the right, you have the memorial gardens. Billy Graham died earlier this year. He is buried next to his wife, Ruth. There are also important memorial sites for Shea and Barrows, who contributed to Graham's ministry through music.
Everyone is friendly. I offered to help take a photo of a group of three family members. One had difficulties using the other's phone, so I offered to take photos of them. In return, the woman asked if she could take my photo. Nice! I am horrible at taking selfies.
I walked into the main entrance. Volunteers open the door and welcome you in. It's a wonderful place to learn about who Graham was. You get introduced to Bessie, a talking cow, and learn about Graham's upbringing.
Each section of the library is themed. There is one room dedicated to his late wife, Ruth. I didn't realize that she was born in Shanghai, as her parents were missionaries. The video and information in this room showed just how much he loved and respected her. He spoke lovingly about her and admitted that she knew more about God than he did.
There are tons of videos and artefacts throughout this amazing library. There was a briefcase that he used for over 25 years, for instance. I appreciated watching old footage of Graham preaching the gospel and how effective an orator he was. You also felt comforted when he reached out to everyone during hard times, such as the 911 attacks.
I felt good visiting this library. There is something peaceful about being here and learning about a decent human being.
If you want to buy souvenirs and books, you can purchase them at Ruth's Attic Bookstore. You are never forced to donate any money at the library. You can if you want to. You can also reach out and speak to a spiritual person if you want and pray in the prayer room.
You can also visit the Graham Brothers Dairy Bar, and grab a bite or drink. The washrooms are cute, with huge basins and a country feel to them.
If you fill out a feedback form and hand it in at the information desk, you get a small thank-you with a book, magnet, and information all in a tote bag. Again, you are never obligated to fill it out. I went ahead and signed the visitor book before I left.
I helped take photos for another group of folks before paying my respects to the Grahams and more in the memorial area. I then visited the Graham family home, which was Billy Graham's childhood home.
Whether you are a devout Christian or a tourist who isn't religious, I would recommend coming here for a visit. I learned a ton and felt even more hopeful than I already was after my visit.
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