Billy Graham Library

{{more footnotes|date=February 2013}}
[[Image:Graham Library and silo, Charlotte, NC IMG 4244.JPG|thumb|right|200px|The Billy Graham Library is shaped like a [[dairy]] barn, with a silo to the right]]The '''Billy Graham Library''' is a public museum and library documenting the life and ministry of Christian [[Evangelism|evangelist]] [[Billy Graham]]. The {{convert|40000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} complex<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/18954810/|title=Hundreds see library dedicated to Billy Graham|date=2007-06-01|work=msnbc.com|access-date=2017-02-28|language=en}}</ref> opened to the public on June 5, 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://djournal.com/opinion/editorial-grahams-legacy/|title=EDITORIAL: Graham's legacy - Daily Journal|date=2007-06-04|work=Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal|access-date=2017-02-28|language=en-US}}</ref> The library is located on the grounds of the international headquarters of the [[Billy Graham Evangelistic Association]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], a few miles from where Graham was reared. The library is styled after a [[dairy barn]], with a mechanical "talking" cow, to reflect Graham's farm-based childhood.<ref name=":0" />

The main galleries within the library showcase numerous presentations, pictures, music, artifacts, and voices from throughout Graham's ministry. One gallery is entirely devoted to [[Ruth Bell Graham]], the wife of the evangelist. There is a dairy bar café and bookstore called "Ruth's Attic." All visitors enter the Library through doors at the base of a {{convert|40|ft|m|adj=on}} glass cross. Also located on the Library grounds is the Prayer Garden, where Ruth Graham was buried on June 17, 2007.[[Image:Billy Graham Library entrance sign, Charlotte, NC IMG 4201.JPG|left|thumb|200px|Entrance to the library from the Billy Graham Parkway in [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], [[North Carolina]]]]Ruth Graham initially opposed to being buried at the library, and instead preferred her home at the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove near [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]] to be her final resting place until just before she died.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stepp |first=Laura Sessions |date=2006-12-13 |title=A Family at Cross-Purposes |language=en-US |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/12/AR2006121201338.html |access-date=2023-03-31 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In March 2009 Wilma "Billie" Barrows, the wife of Billy Graham's longtime Music Director [[Cliff Barrows]], was interred on the Library grounds.

In April 2013, Gospel singer and Graham's regular featured soloist [[George Beverly Shea]] was interred there as well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nvdaily/obituary.aspx?n=george-beverly-shea&pid=164723747|title=George Beverly Shea's Obituary on Northern Virginia Daily|website=Northern Virginia Daily|access-date=2017-02-28}}</ref> Barrows was buried next to his wife on the grounds after his death in November 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://cliffbarrowsmemorial.org/obituary/|title=Obituary - CLIFF BARROWS|work=CLIFF BARROWS|access-date=2017-02-28|language=en-US}}</ref>

Graham's funeral following his February 21, 2018 death was conducted on March 2, 2018 in a tent, similar to the tents where he held his first crusades, on the grounds of the Library. Prior to the funeral, Graham had laid in repose in his childhood homeplace next to the library as well as lying in honor at the United States Capital in Washington, D.C. Following the funeral, Graham was buried next to his wife in the Library's Prayer Garden.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-22 |title=Funeral plans announced for evangelist Billy Graham |url=https://www.wbtv.com/story/37566982/funeral-plans-announced-for-evangelist-billy-graham |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=WBTV |language=en}}</ref>
[[Image:Appreciation Walkway at Billy Graham Library IMG 4232.JPG|200px|thumb|right|Appreciation Walkway at the Billy Graham Library leads to the graves of [[Billy Graham]] & [[Ruth Bell Graham]]]]
[[Image:Home of Morrow Coffey Graham, Charlotte, NC IMG 4203.JPG|200px|right|thumb|The home of Morrow Coffey Graham, the mother of Billy Graham, has been preserved at the Graham Library]]
[[Image:Desk of Billy Graham, Charlotte, NC IMG 4230.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Replica of the desk of Billy Graham]]
[[Image:Graham Bros. Dairy truck in Charlotte, NC IMG 4229.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Model Graham Brothers Dairy truck on display at the Billy Graham Library]]

== See also ==
* [[List of Billy Graham's crusades]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* [https://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN3126885620070531 Reuters]
* {{cite web |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/lifestyles/religion/story/587336.html |title=Graham was force in U.S. |publisher=News & Observer |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070514111849/http://www.newsobserver.com/lifestyles/religion/story/587336.html |archive-date=May 14, 2007 |url-status=dead}} 
* https://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-05-31-billy-graham-library_N.htm?csp=34 
* {{cite web |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/billy-graham-friend-to-presidents-pastor-to-many-27737/ |title=Billy Graham: Friend to Presidents, Pastor to Many |publisher=The Christian Post |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119032825/http://christianpost.com/article/20070601/27737_Billy_Graham:_Friend_to_Presidents,_Pastor_to_Many.htm |archive-date=January 19, 2013 |url-status=unfit}}
* http://news14.com/content/special_edition/billy_graham_library_dedication/Default.aspx

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.billygrahamlibrary.org/ Billy Graham Library]
* [http://www.billygraham.org/ Billy Graham Evangelistic Association]
* [http://www.samaritanspurse.org/ Samaritan's Purse]

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{{Billy Graham}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Libraries in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Museums in Charlotte, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Biographical museums in North Carolina|Graham, Billy]]
[[Category:Religious museums in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Billy Graham]]