Billy Graham certainly never thought to have an attraction in Charlotte honoring his ministry. In fact, when his son Franklin first approached him with the idea, he refused to even consider it. However, after his nephew Mel suggested it would be Billy’s “ongoing Crusade” and would bring people to Christ even after Billy passed away, Billy agreed, as long as Christ would be the central focus. Even after the Library opened in 2007, Billy made the comment that there was “too much Billy.”
Our archives feature this month is a Billy Graham Library brochure from 2005 which includes an explanation of the vision for the Billy Graham Library along with an artist’s rendering of the future Library and a floor plan.
The Billy Graham Library was dedicated in a special ceremony that was attended by former President’s Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton a few days before it officially opened to the public on June 5, 2007. A few photos from the dedication are below.