What is It - Since the 1970s, many cities in the upper Midwest have suffered a decline in population and a loss of their industrial base. One city that has worked hard to revitalize itself in recent decades has been Cleveland, Ohio. In addition to building three new sports stadiums within the downtown during the 1990s, a substantial section of the waterfront along Lake Erie has been transformed into a regional center for entertainment, education, and recreation.

The centerpiece of this revitalization is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame housed in a modern, seven story structure built in 1994 on the Great Lakes above the waterfront. Over the past four decades, this enterprise has become a major player in the music industry and attracts over 500,000 visitors per year. The annual induction ceremony which alternates between the museum, Los Angeles and New York City honors new inductees and includes special events such as a concert with headliners and rock legends. The museum presents exhibits, films, memorabilia, and historic displays regarding the history of rock and roll and leading performers from the last 70 years. It has a broad enough focus to entertain grandparents, parents, and older children for two to four hours. 

Exhibitions at the Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has a grand entrance featuring large block red letters spelling “Long Live Rock” along with an outdoor stage where artists perform on Thursdays and Fridays in the summer. The modern architecture of the building features extensive glasswork and a pyramid like design. Inside the entrance are ticketing services, a cafe with drinks and snacks, and a gift shop with clothing items, Hall of Fame logo products and selected records from performers enshrined in the hall.

The large exhibition areas concentrated on floors zero, 5, 6, and 7 are filled with thousands of artifacts and personal items from performers. Some examples of the items to be seen are: (1) ) display cases containing pictures, records and outfits of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones; (2) an exhibit about Elvis with a video concerning his friendships and music interchanges with black blues and soul  artists; (3) exhibits showing areas of the country which developed unique “sounds” in the 1960s and 1970s such as Detroit’s Motown, Philadelphia Soul, and San Francisco rock and then gave rise to major performers; (4) information and videos about some of the gospel, blues and other artists who established the roots of rock and roll in the 1940s and 1950s; (5) mementos from hitmakers during the British Invasion and from other legends of rock and roll such as Jimi Hendrix, Herman’s Hermits, U2, David Bowie, and Public Enemy;  (6) the  red jacket  Michael Jackson wore for his “Thriller” performances; and (7) dozens of guitars from artists such as Eric Clapton, Prince, Chuck Berry and Jerry Garcia. 

Movies and videos about rock and roll are shown in small theaters at the museum. One popular show called the “Power of Rock” allows visitors to see a high-volume performance by groups of rockers filmed during prior induction ceremonies. During 2022 another film called “The Beatles: Get Back to Let It Be” is being shown. It presents a 40-minute live rendition of songs from the Beatles’ Let It Be album which they performed on a rooftop in London before the event was shut down by police. Other films about the music business are presented on a rotating basis such as one about the influence of American Bandstand in promoting new artists and building stars.

Like other hall of fame museums, there is also a gallery with plaques for each of the inductees along with interactive screens which allow the user to learn about the background of each inductee and their music. Most inductees are performing artists but people who have made special contributions to the industry as songwriters, producers, or early influencers to music are recognized each year as well. The 2022 inductees include Pat Benatar, Carly Simon, Duran Duran, Eminem and ten others. There are frequent debates about the merits of individual performers and controversies about whether the Hall has ignored hip-hop artists, pop music acts, foreign performers, or specific musicians. Nevertheless, the inductees in 1988 included an impressive list of nine artists such as the Beatles, Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, and the Supremes.

Interesting Facts - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is just one of the things to do on the waterfront in Cleveland. The Great Lakes Science Center next door is popular for families too. Its exhibits include touring a historic 618-foot-long freighter docked outside, a six-story domed theater with astrological programs, interactive displays for science phenomena and bio MedTech, and even exhibits about the science of rock and roll. First Energy Stadium down the street also holds frequent events ranging from NFL games, college games and rock concerts to a monster truck rally. 

When to Go - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is an inside attraction, so it is open year-round. Nevertheless, it can be rainy on Lake Erie during the spring and temperatures rarely exceed 50 degrees from November to the end of March which can hamper the enjoyment of the waterfront. During the summer, the temperature stays in the seventies and low eighties making it a pleasant location for seeing the museum and the waterfront sights.

How to Get Here – The major airlines which fly to Cleveland’s Hopkins International Airport are American, Delta, Frontier and Jet Blue, but each of them have direct flights to different cities so check the routes and aircraft servicing your point of origin. Nevertheless, Cleveland is a 6-to-9-hour drive from most major cities in the northeast and the upper Midwest. With easy access from Interstates 90, 80, 76 and 70 and limited train service to the region, driving to the city is an option which also should be considered. 

Cost - General admission to the Hall of Fame is $35 for adults and $25 for children between 6 and 12 years of age. Young children are free.