The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame holds a unique and modern collection of memorabilia and artifacts celebrating music history. Even as a native Midwesterner, it took me a long time to finally visit the museum in Cleveland, Ohio, which opened in 1995. Had I known then what I know now, I would have visited sooner.
It may be that the name “Rock and Roll” is too limiting for the museum, or perhaps my view of what Rock and Roll entailed was too narrow. Visiting the museum gave me a new perspective on the genre and music history and provided a fun-filled walk down memory lane. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is worth visiting for anyone who likes music. Its collections span rock, pop, rap, funk, soul, and more.
About the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in downtown Cleveland, alongside Lake Erie – one of the five Great Lakes. It’s a modern black glass pyramid structure with adjacent geometric shapes, including a tall circular tower and two cantilevered wings. The style is bold, distinctive, and entirely appropriate for the content.
The museum showcases the history of rock music and some of the best-known and most influential musicians, bands, producers, and creators who have influenced its development. Exhibits, updated and changed frequently, document rock and roll history from Elvis to the present day. These include digital displays, music, and written content to tell stories of the people, events, and songs that shaped the music industry.
But it’s more than a museum. You’ll find exhibits about inductees, an interactive section to watch induction ceremony highlights and even stations where you can nominate an artist or group to join the Hall of Fame.
Tips for Visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland
This museum, like the history of rock and roll, isn’t linear. The stories and exhibits aren’t arranged in immediately logical ways. Instead, there is a randomness that requires visitors to find their way, much like exploring a record store or listening to unknown bands at a weekend music festival. Visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is an exploration of music.
Guests enter the multi-story glass atrium inside the pyramid, where various choices exist, including displays, the gift shop, a café, and more. It’s unclear which way you should go or if it’s best to follow a pattern.
Level 0 Where History is Revealed
Called Level 0, this floor holds the main exhibit hall and the bulk of displays and history. I entered it in the wrong direction – not that there is a “wrong” way, but in hindsight, I’d have rather gone the other direction (to the left), where the history begins with an Elvis display, which is where I ended.
Regardless, the story inside the Hall spans generations from rock’s earliest artists to those newly emerging. There are thousands of items on display, from journals, clothing, instruments, a VW Bus, and a pinball machine. The exhibits feature films, videos, interactive kiosks, reading and plenty of music. You’ll nod your head, sing, and dance your way around.
The display highlights the many evolutions of the music that changed the world and exhibits are titled Roots of Rock, Legends of Rock, Right Here, Right Now, One Hit Wonders and more.
The music is much more than what you might consider “rock and roll.” Musicians included:
- AC/DC
- The Beach Boys
- Beastie Boys
- Elvis Presley
- Black Sabbath
- Blondie
- David Bowie
- James Brown
- Jay-Z
- Johnny Cash
- Eminem
- Eric Clapton
- Leonard Cohen
- The Cure
- Fats Domino
- Janet Jackson and
- Taylor Swift, to name just a few
It’s more than Rock and Roll and I like it!
Level 2 of the Rock Museum Let’s the Music Play
Up the escalator, past the classic CBGB display (a music club in New York City’s East Village in the 70s), you’ll hear the band playing before your feet touch the ground. Here, you can sign up to play in your own band.
“The Garage” consists of five main areas where fans can pick up real instruments, learn to play, and jam with friends in a karaoke-like experience. Practice stations with walls covered in posters and stickers are made to look like an old garage where a band might first get their start. When I walked up, a group was loudly playing a version of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” the crowd gathered around, hopped in place and sang along.
There are also sections on this floor to explore creating rock and roll-worthy branding and building visual identity. A short display shows how some iconic bands got their iconic logos, and you try making your own.
“Garage Gear” on this floor includes a guitar made and played by Les Paul, Black Sabbath crash cymbals and a 6-string Fender Telecaster guitar used by B.B. King, Jeff Beck and Johnny Marr of The Smiths.
Level 3 is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On Level 3, it’s all about the Hall of Fame. This is where you can see the plaques honoring the winners, pictures of the induction events, a new inductee exhibit and a touching section in memoriam.
A unique feature on this floor includes signature panels with each Inductee’s signature and induction year.
Level 4 is Another Brick in the Wall
The highlight of this floor comes into view before you’ve even reached it. Heading up the escalator, you won’t miss a giant replica of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall.” It looms over the entirety of the space in the bright sunlight reflected from the glass above. My older brothers would be in heaven at this display!
The song “Another Brick in the Wall,” released in 1979, included three singles, a 1980s concert tour and a feature film. The band created the massive wall for a Berlin performance in 1990, but its huge success has given it more life. The concert stage featured a massive 340-brick wall built brick by brick during the show’s first half and then demolished at the end. This version displayed in the museum even includes the “Teacher” character, a long-limbed figure with a striped tie and glasses that sits on the wall. Teacher! Leave them kids alone!
Level 5 of the Rock Museum’s Archives
Finally, the top floor highlights the multiple genres of music that have sprung from rock and roll. It also spotlights past and potential future nominees, such as Cher and Jethro Tull, who aren’t yet in the Hall of Fame – and it’s always a lively debate.
Artifacts from inductees include items from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and many more.
The archives are here, and visitors can explore the Hall’s extensive holdings, including books, magazines, audio and video recordings, over 100,000 pieces of vinyl and more.
If you visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland
Visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame takes about two hours to see most of each floor. It takes longer the more you read and the exhibits you participate in.
If you want to see an induction ceremony, they don’t happen here. The 38th Annual Induction Ceremony will occur on November 3rd at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
Various paid meters and parking lots are available around the museum, and you can purchase tickets at the door, but they only accept credit cards and mobile payments.
Find the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at 1100 Rock and Roll Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio.
Read other stories about Ohio here.
