Birthplace of Billy Graham
Charlotte, North Carolina
Evangelist Billy Graham, sometimes called "God's ambassador" by his fans, was born on a spot now marked by a large monument. In 1918 it was a white clapboard house on a dairy farm; now it's a parking lot in a Charlotte suburb.
President Richard Nixon, one of Billy's confidants and golf buddies, flew down to Charlotte just to dedicate the monument in 1971 on "Billy Graham Day." The large bronze plaque features a portrait of Billy's serious face and an extensive quote, signed by Nixon, which calls him "truly a man of God" and "one of the giants of our time." At the dedication, local papers reported that the Secret Service kept away any young men with long hair.