Touring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Touring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a must for anyone visiting Cleveland. Located on the shore of Lake Erie, the museum is massive, including seven floors of exhibition space, spanning 150,000 sq. ft. The exhibits will take you on a quick journey through the history of rock and roll music, from one-hit wonders to legendary inductees. An average of 500,000 people visit each year and more than 8,000,000  have toured the museum since it opened in September 1995.

I often wondered why the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is located in Cleveland and why rock music in general was so intertwined with that city. As it turns out, a lot of it has to do with a Cleveland DJ by the name of Alan Freed. He actually coined the phrase “Rock and Roll” on his Moondog Radio Hour in the early 1950s. Freed is also credited with organizing the first rock concert, the Moondog Coronation Ball on March 21, 1952. Since then, Cleveland has been a popular touring stop for many rock bands and the radio station WMMS launched the music careers of a number of talented artists including Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie.

The museum is packed with countless memorabilia from everything including guitars and song books to clothing and awards. Some of the largest displays include memorabilia from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Jimmy Hendrix. I was really impressed with just how many personal effects the museum had from each of these artists. Everything is well preserved and really gives you an in-depth look into their lives.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has several theaters featuring films including the history of Rock and Roll and the story of the Rock Hall inductees. You’ll also find interactive listening exhibits and a Hall of Fame Jukebox on Level 4 with such an extensive playlist; it will blow your mind. One of my favorite exhibits was “Video Killed the Radio Star” located on Level 2 which features the history of Music Television.

I really enjoyed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and thought that it did a spectacular job capturing each of its artists. It is a truly great experience for both visitors who grew up with the bands or children learning about them for the first time. So if you ever get the opportunity, be sure to check out the Rock Hall to experience the amazing history of music and see why “Cleveland Rocks.”

Many thanks to Rock Hall for allowing me to tour their museum. All opinions, as always, are my own.