In a building shaped like a barn, the Billy Graham Library documents a life begun on a farm near Charlotte and dedicated to preaching the Gospel to people on six continents.

A spiritual adviser to presidents and a minister to millions, Billy Graham has spent six decades leading the evangelistic association that bears his name. The museum, opened in June, chronicles that career in an innovative and family-friendly setting. The library was dedicated with former President George H.W. Bush as keynote speaker, and former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter attending.

The museum’s design paints a fascinating picture of the personal and professional life of the 88-year-old evangelist, which began on a farm about four miles from the library site. That’s reflected in the dairy barn theme of the library, complete with hay bales, metal milk cans and a vintage 1936-model Chevrolet farm truck—and even an animatronic cow that tells children about Graham’s life as a young boy on the farm.

The library’s entrance, shaped like a cross, is symbolic of the purpose of the evangelist’s ministry. Scripture verses are engraved on the wooden beams that stretch across the main entry. An introductory video theater gives guests a six-minute overview of Graham’s historic worldwide influence, showing crusade audiences from South Korea and South Africa to Eastern Europe.

Exhibits show the world-renowned evangelist in the context of his times. One recreates the 1949 eight-week tent crusade that propelled him to nationwide attention. Another shows footage of his early radio and TV broadcasts and visitors can see video interviews with Larry King, Phil Donahue and Edward R. Murrow.

A historically significant exhibit shows how the evangelist comforted the nation in times of grief and troubles. An array of vintage television sets shows footage of Graham speaking on American crises like the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Vietnam War and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

One exhibit focuses on Graham’s penetration of the “Iron Curtain” with crusades in Yugoslavia, Hungary, Poland, Russia and Romania, during a time when Christian activity was almost entirely banned in those countries. Visitors can hear testimonials from people who attended.

Exhibits conclude with a seven-minute video that lets visitors experience what it was like to attend a Billy Graham crusade. It shows the set-up process for a typical crusade and includes a montage of footage from 50 years of crusades, including moving “altar calls” which conclude each service.

Tribute is also paid to Ruth Bell Graham, the woman who was by Billy Graham’s side for more than 60 years of marriage until her death shortly after the library opened.

She is buried on the library grounds— as her husband will be—at the foot of a cross-shaped path in the Prayer Garden. The Ruth Bell Graham exhibit describes her early life as the daughter of missionaries in China and what is now North Korea. It also features a reproduction of the Grahams’ living room in their home in Montreat, NC. A video provides a look into her role in raising the couple’s five children. “Ruth’s Attic,” a bookstore and cafe’ on the museum grounds, bears her name.

The Billy Graham Library is located at 1 Billy Graham Parkway in Charlotte. Open: Monday–Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed Sundays. Admission is free. Phone: (704) 401-3200. Website: billygraham.org/library. – Jayne Cannon