Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

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The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is one of the most popular attractions in Cleveland, Ohio, especially for music lovers of all ages. Here’s more information about the history, the exhibits, special events, and visiting the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

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The History of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Ahmet Ertegun, the chairman and founder of Atlantic Records, started the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation in 1983, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opened on the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland in 1995. And I.M. Pei, a world-renowned architect who created the Louvre in Paris, designed the Hall of Fame building.

Cleveland civic leaders helped fund the construction, and 600,000 Northeast Ohio residents signed a petition naming Cleveland the best city for the Hall of Fame. Cleveland DJ Alan Freed came up with the term “rock and roll” and promoted the new type of music. Cleveland was the site of Freed’s Moondog Coronation Ball, the first large rock and roll concert. Freed also became a member of the Hall of Fame in 1986. Cleveland’s WMMS radio station helped popularize several bands in the 1970s and 1980s, including Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie.

Exhibits

In the Main Exhibit Hall, you can learn about the roots of rock and roll, famous songs that helped shape rock and roll, some of the best cities for rock and roll, and some of the best Super Bowl halftime performances. You can also learn about rap music, Elvis Presley, Jerry Garcia, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and much more. Near the entrance, there’s a cafe with beer, wine, salads, wraps, and snacks. There’s also a museum store with clothing, art, books, CDs, posters, and more.

You can shop online as well. In The Garage on Level 2, you and your friends or family can create original music. There’s a guitar, a keyboard, drums, and a bass guitar for you to try. You can also see several instruments used by famous artists. The Hall of Fame is on Level 3, and it includes the Signature Gallery honoring each of the 338 inductees, the New Inductee Exhibit, the Power of Rock Experience, and In Memoriam.

The New Inductee Exhibit includes clothes, posters, programs, and more from recent inductees, including LL Cool J, The Foo Fighters, JAY-Z, and Tina Turner. The Power of Rock Experience is a 15-minute show with performances from Bruce Springsteen, Chuck Berry, and other Hall of Fame Inductees. On Level 4 in the Foster Theater, an exhibit about Pink Floyd’s The Wall mirrors parts of the set used in their 1990 Berlin concert commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall. The text on the wall outlines the circumstances that inspired the band to create the album.

The Legends of Rock exhibit on Levels 5 and 6 features instruments, costumes from some of the most incredible concerts, and handwritten drafts of hit singles. The Metropolitan Museum of Art developed this exhibit along with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You can see exhibits about Michael Jackson, The Supremes, James Brown, Blondie, The Notorious B.I.G., John Lennon, The Doors, U2, Janis Joplin, and many more stars.

Special Events

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame often hosts fun special events. The Fam Jam virtual series is hosted with the Beck Center for the Arts, the Cleveland Public Library, the Children’s Museum of Cleveland, and Keep Music Alive. These events have live performances, arts and crafts, storytime, and a musical instrument show and tell. Teachers and parents can create free online accounts to access activity worksheets and craft supply lists for participants.

Rock Hall Nights happen on some Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m., and they let you get a closer look at the exhibits with the Rock Hall crew. Each night is different, and it’s free for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members and Cleveland residents. You can also enjoy concerts in spring and summer.

Visiting the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame opens most days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closes at 9 p.m. on Thursdays. You can buy a ticket for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame combined. With Rock Hall EDU, students can take advantage of free, professionally-developed lesson plans, videos, playlists, worksheets, and more.

Exploring the museum takes about two and a half to three hours, and photos and videos are welcome. Just turn off your flash and avoid the Connor Theater and any other areas with No Photography signs. Adults must accompany kids who are 13 years old and under.

You can rent the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for special events, including weddings, proms, parties, and meetings. It can house up to 2,000 people. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame gift cards are available. Masks are required, and capacity is limited. You also have to buy your ticket in advance online. If you can’t come when you plan to visit, you can exchange your tickets for a different time slot at the entrance. However, access to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is nonrefundable.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is cleaned and sanitized daily, and there are hand-sanitizing stations throughout the building. Tickets aren’t needed to visit the gift shop and cafe. The All-Access Cafe has outdoor seating, and disposable eating utensils are available. The water fountains are off, but you can bring your drink or buy one there.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is just one of the many attractions you and your family members can enjoy in Cleveland. What places do you like visiting in Cleveland most? Who is your favorite Hall of Fame artist? Contact us at Honda of Cleveland Heights and let us know what you think.