Most days, Domna Colepaugh of Charlotte stays around the house, home-schooling son Jason, 12. But on Tuesday, teacher and student went on a field trip -- to the Billy Graham Library on its surprisingly quiet grand opening.

What started as a learning experience for Jason ended up being an emotional trip back to 1971 for his mom, who answered Graham's altar call that year -- while the choir sang "Just As I Am" -- during a crusade in Chicago.

When she heard the hymn at the library, "it brought tears to my eyes," she said.

The Colepaughs were among 316 people who toured the 40,000-square-foot museum on Tuesday.

It was a stream of visitors rather than waves, but a spokesman for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association said the organization was fine with that first-day number.

"I think we're on target for the beginning," said Ken Barun. "We're still getting people to know that it's open. And it's midweek."

Library officials have said they expect to draw between 200,000 and 400,000 people every year to the $27 million facility off Billy Graham Parkway.

If they hit 200,000, it would pump about $36 million into the local economy annually, said Molly Hedrick, a spokeswoman for the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.

"It's huge," she said about the library's potential to bring tourists to Charlotte. "Really, truly, we've been promoting it for about a year with group tour planners, meeting planners and in leisure publications."

Christian tourists are on the road more these days, traveling to sites geared to evangelicals.

Orlando, Fla., is home to the Holy Land Experience, a re-creation of the places Jesus traveled 2,000 years ago. And a $27 million museum touting the biblical version of creation -- as opposed to Charles Darwin's theory -- recently opened in Petersburg, Ky.

By noon Tuesday, visitors from 20 states had signed the greetings book at the entrance of Charlotte's newest tourist attraction.

At just after 9:30 a.m., Bill and Karen Dumbauld of Seal Beach, Calif., became the first members of the public to enter the exhibits area. They were in Charlotte to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of friends.

Their reaction after taking the 90-minute self-guided tour, with its memorabilia and film footage of Graham in his preaching prime?

"If people come here, they'll leave as believers in Christ," said Bill Dumbauld, 69, a retired member of the Los Angeles Police Department who especially liked the re-creation of the 1949 L.A. tent crusade that made Graham a national star.

Visitors Jack and Mary Shubin of San Diego have a friend, now in his 80s, who became a Christian at that famous crusade.

On Tuesday, they bought him a Billy Graham Library shirt.

In Charlotte to visit their son, the Shubins said they were spiritually touched by their tour. "You can sense the Holy Spirit stirring," said Jack Shubin, 52, project manager at a church in California.

Many Carolinians, white and black, were also among those in Billy Graham's hometown Tuesday to "just come and look," in the words of retired electrician Layton Witten, 69, of Anderson, S.C.

He and wife Barbara, 65, got up early to make the 130-mile trip.

Ronnie and Patty Mercer drove in from Chadbourn in Columbus County to see the library -- and attend Carowinds.

"Loved it," said Patty Mercer, 55, who teared up during the film footage of Graham telling his flock how much God loves them. "It's inspirational. It makes you want to go out and serve the Lord."

Added her husband, who's 58 and a sweet potato salesman: "This place has removed any doubt in my life about my own personal salvation. I'm going to be a stronger Christian in my walk with Christ after this."

During a library dedication last week that featured former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, the aging Graham, now 88, said he hoped the museum would continue to bring people to Jesus long after he is gone.

But based on the committed Christians who turned out Tuesday, the museum is more likely to preach to the choir.

Take Sally Ledford of Columbus, Ohio. "I just started crying when I came in here and saw the Scripture (on the trusses)," she said.

She even liked the museum's animatronic cow, which looks real and quotes from the Bible, too.

"I just love to hear an animal praise the Lord and use Scripture."

Among the happiest to be at the library Tuesday: Gloria Williams, 58, of Charlotte.

"It is history to me -- the first day. It's something I'll never forget," she said. "When I'm passed, my grandchildren will be able to tell their kids, `My grandmother was there the first day the Billy Graham Library was open.' "

Want to Go?

Admission: Free. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Sundays.

Parking: Free parking will be available, including auto, bus, RV and disabled spaces.

Phone: 704-401-3200.

Web site: www.billygraham.org/BGLibrary

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Address: 4330 Westmont Drive, Charlotte, NC 28217.

Westmont is located off Billy Graham Parkway west of I-77.

Things to Know

• Pets are not accommodated, with the exception of guide dogs.

• Visitors need to provide their own strollers and wheelchairs.

• Groups of 15 or more require a reservation.