The Billy Graham Library is modeled after presidential libraries, but for now consists mostly of exhibits that mark his rise from a Charlotte dairy farm to a world-famous evangelist. It also asks visitors to find salvation by accepting Jesus as their savior.

Visitors to the $27 million facility, which was built with private funds, enter through doors that form the base of a glass cross climbing 40 feet high. They'll see Scripture passages on the trusses in the lobby and throughout the 40,000-square-foot museum.

And they'll hear Graham's dynamic preaching -- that voice on fire for Jesus -- in almost every exhibit.

It booms out of the replica of the radio booth where he did his "Hour of Decision" in the 1950s.

And it flows at the re-creation of the Berlin Wall, where Graham -- with a little help from translators -- reached out to spiritually starved Soviet bloc crowds in the '70s and '80s.

The museum will house some of his papers in the future.

Billy Graham Library

The library, a collection of exhibits covering the life of Billy Graham and his Christian message, opens Tuesday. 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_Index.asp

Address: 4330 Westmont Dr., Charlotte, NC 28217.

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

Things to Know

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

• Visitors will need to provide their own strollers and wheelchairs.

• Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

• Groups of 15 or more will require a reservation.