The Church of Rock'N Roll

The Church of of Rock'N Roll

If you loved, or missed, rock's early years, try the Rock'N Roll Hall of Fame

So you've already criss-crossed the country. And you've hit all of the meccas of American culture. And you just don't have the energy to follow the Dean or make Lollapalooza your life. No problem. Unearth thouse tapes you used to listen to when you wore those hot pants! Pack the car with ones that make you feel like a voodoo child. Take along your prized Fender Telecaster, and drive yourself through all the fields of gold until you reach Cleveland, Ohio, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...

The concept for a museum dedicated to the history of rock and roll was born over decades ago, with the creation of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. Founded by a group of music industry moguls, the foundation honors men and women who have made unique contributions to rock and roll. In 1986, after a nationwide search for an appropriate location, Cleveland, Ohio, was chosen as the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The doors open in September 1995.

If James Brown's stage costume, Pete Townshend's battered acoustic guitar, Big Joe Turner's passport, or Grace Slick's dress from Woodstock aren't enough of a draw, it's worth the trip to Cleveland to see the creation of one of the world's most famous architects. Designed by I.M. Pei, who also renovated the Louvre, the rock museum has not only exhibition areas and archival facilities, but also indoor and outdoor concert areas, and a working studio where visiting D.Js can conduct live broadcasts.

Rock N' Roll new  young Stars. Photo by Elena

Inside the dramatic cantilevered spaces, the exhibits are likely to delight not only the most diehard rock fans, but also the most technologically sophisticated of visitors with the way high-tech wizardry has been blended with good, old-fashioned story-telling to show how rock and roll helped shape today's culture.

The collections spotlight Hall of Famers by including materials that cover the entire scope of each individual<s life and work, as well as portraying rock and roll in the context of the society that gave birth to and felt the impact of such high-decibel stars and the Rolling Stons, the Beatles, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and James Brown.

Museum officials embrace the good, the bad and the ugly; the major music scenes, and the music's impact on the way we live are all covered in exhibitions.

This is no mere Hard Rock Cafe. The museum's special features include a multimedia presentation that leads visitors through a recording session; a series of ongoing film presentations and focused exhibits that provide in-depth information on artists, historical periods, and current events; and interactive database featuring “The 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll”; a three-dimensional display that traces the history of fashion in rock and roll; and tons of memorabilia collected by fans or donated by the legends themselves.

Location: The museum is located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland's North Coast Harbor at 1040 East 9th Streeet, Cleveland, Ohio 44114.