Located on the Cleveland lakefront, the ultra-modern building was designed by I. M. Pie. It cost $92 million and opened in 1995.

Home Of Rock & Roll

Music Hall Of Fame In Cleveland, Ohio

There may be some dispute on where rock & roll music actually began, but there's no argument about where it is preserved and memorialized. It's on the shore of Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum. The term "rock and roll" was coined by a Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed in 1951.

Since it opened in September 1995, the shrine to one of world's most popular musical forms and to its musicians has attracted millions of visitors. The museum's ultramodern $92 million facility was designed by world renowned architect I. M. Pie and was an important part of the city's renewal efforts. The 150,000 sq. ft. building is a composition of bold geometric forms and dynamic cantilevered spaces anchored by a 162-foot tower. The tower supports a dual-triangular-shaped glass tent that extends onto a large outdoor plaza, providing a dramatic entryway.

The museum celebrates the American pop-cultural institution of rock music by honoring its popular and influential performers, producers, songwriters and disc jockeys. Various exhibits, films and displays explore nearly all aspects of rock and roll ‹ from the roots of the genre in folk music, blues and country music to a large variety of rock and roll artifacts. As a museum, it features a Hall of Fame exhibit, which includes a computerized juke box containing nearly every song of every performer inductee, the signatures of inductees etched in glass, film exhibits and displays of artifacts.

The Museum features dynamic interactive exhibits, intimate performance spaces and presents a rotation of artifact and costume displays from the museum's permanent collection. Exhibits showcase specific eras, styles and milestones, as well as highlight the many facets of rock and roll's evolution.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation organizes the annual nomination, election and induction of new members into the Hall of Fame. Nominees are chosen by a committee of popular music historians and musicologists, and are eligible if they have released a record at least 25 years prior to induction. Election is by an international group of music industry professionals. Since 1986, approximately 180 artists, as well as some from the non-performer and early influence categories have been chosen. The list of Hall of Fame inductees reads like a who's who of American popular music. The 2007 inductees are Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, R.E.M., The Ronettes, Patti Smith, and Van Halen.

Among the museum's collection are many costumes including Bruce Springsteen's outfit from the cover of Born in the U.S.A., Prince's Purple Rain coat, Madonna's bustier from Like a Virgin, David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust jumpsuit, plus John Lennon's and Ringo Starr's Sgt. Pepper uniforms.

Personal effects in the collection include a telegram from Paul & Linda McCartney to Neil Young, 1982, John Lennon's passport and green card, Jimi Hendrix's handwritten Purple Haze lyrics, handwritten lyrics to the Beatles' In My Life and Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds, and Buddy Holly's high school diploma There are also a numerous musical instruments including Duane Allman's 1959 Gibson Les Paul and his 1963 Gibson SG Standard, Lead Belly's 12-string Stella acoustic guitar, and Jimi Hendrix's 1965 Fender Stratocaster guitar. Exhibits sets include a recreation of Sun Studios with Sam Philip's original recording equipment and piano. In addition, there are sets that trace various movements including Memphis Rockabilly, The British Invasion, Detroit's Motown and San Francisco's Psychedelic.

There are a number of special exhibits. One of these honors Les Paul, who built first solid-body electric guitar in 1941 and refined the technology of sound developing many revolutionary engineering techniques. Another honors the early years of rock and roll featuring performers such as Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, and Little Richard. Yet another explores the rich legacy of soul music with a variety of items from James Brown, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Otis Redding and many others.

Over 50 different exhibits explore the history of rock and roll through thousands of original artifacts. There are also numerous films, videos and interactive computer stations to further tell this story. Three theaters take visitors on a film journey through rock and roll history: Mystery Train and Kick Out the Jams in Theaters One and Two examine the roots of rock and its continuing evolution today. The It's Only Rock ŚN Roll Theater presents Rock Is.

On The Charts: This new, permanent exhibition space is dedicated to today's hottest and up-and-coming artists. The current exhibit includes artifacts from Madonna, Britney Spears, No Doubt and Eminem.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum also presents a series of concerts every summer that features both local and national acts. To learn more visit www.rockhall.com. Visitors to Cleveland, should begin their trip at www.travelcleveland.com.