Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: rock museum and archive in Cleveland

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a museum and non-profit institution based in Cleveland (Ohio, United States) centered on rock music and its legacy. Its stated mission is to "engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock and roll." The museum opened its doors on September 2, 1995, and since then has served as an exhibition space, archive, and meeting point for artists and the public.

History and origins

In 1985, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was looking for a city to house its physical museum. Cleveland submitted its bid and, thanks to broad public support and a commitment of 65 million dollars from local authorities, was chosen ahead of other cities such as New York, San Francisco, Memphis, and Chicago. The first stone was laid on June 7, 1993, at a ceremony attended by, among others, Pete Townshend (The Who), Chuck Berry, Billy Joel, Sam Phillips, and Ruth Brown. A year later, Jerry Lee Lewis performed during the placement of the final steel beam. The official opening, on September 2, 1995, was celebrated with a benefit concert at the nearby Cleveland Municipal Stadium featuring James Brown, Bob Dylan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash, and Booker T. and the M.G.s, among others. That opening weekend also included a parade through downtown Cleveland and a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Little Richard and Yoko Ono. Architect I. M. Pei participated in the building's topping-out ceremony. Greg Harris is the institution's current CEO.

Exhibitions and collections

The museum houses temporary and permanent exhibitions focused on the history of popular music. Notable exhibits include:

• Paul McCartney and Wings: the first major museum exhibition dedicated to the career of Paul McCartney and Wings, considered a defining force in 1970s rock that bridged the gap between the end of The Beatles and the rise of a new era in popular music. The exhibit brings together the largest collection of artifacts from Paul McCartney's archive.
• SNL: Ladies & Gentleman… 50 Years of Music: an immersive exhibition on the musical history of Saturday Night Live, its performances, and sketches.
• Revolutionary Women in Music: examines the work of courageous, groundbreaking, rebellious women in music, from the 1970s to today, who use songwriting, music, and performance to subvert societal norms.
• The Music of 1984: dedicated to what the institution presents as "pop music's best year ever," with releases from artists such as Prince, Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, and Madonna.

The museum also preserves and displays artifacts from artists and offers a VIP experience called Backstage Stories, a guided tour led by Rock Hall experts.

Inductions and ceremonies

The institution organizes the annual induction ceremony for new members into the Hall of Fame. The Class of 2026 includes Joy Division/New Order, Phil Collins, Linda Creed, Celia Cruz, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Fela Kuti, Arif Mardin, MC Lyte, Jimmy Miller, Oasis, Gram Parsons, Queen Latifah, Rick Rubin, Sade, Ed Sullivan, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan. The 2025 ceremony also has a highlights recap available on the site. Select members have access to induction ceremony tickets.

Cultural and digital programming

The Rock Hall develops programming that goes beyond the physical exhibition:

• Rock Hall Live: summer concert series with tickets on sale.
• Music Makes Us: the institution's podcast, whose second season premiered on August 25 with Kathleen Hanna as host. It features conversations about perfect lyrics, unforgettable shows, treasured artifacts, and the music that connects people.
• RRTV: curated channels with legendary performances, speeches, and interviews from the Rock Hall archives.
• Sonic Connections: a series that traces rock's influence across genres and generations, with articles on topics such as Outkast's influence, the move from CBGB to mainstream hip-hop, or the evolution of a guitar riff from Stevie Nicks to Destiny's Child and Missy Elliott.
• Cover Story: a daily game to guess album covers.

The museum also organizes special events, such as the 9-to-5 Day celebration honoring Dolly Parton on September 25, and offers community programs, annual reports, and data on its economic impact.

Rock and roll landmarks

The institution recognizes a list of landmark places (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmarks) that have been key in the history of the genre. These include the Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN, 2022), Cosimo Matassa's J&M Studios (New Orleans, LA, 2010), Austin City Limits (Austin, TX, 2009), The Surf Ballroom (Clear Lake, IA, 2009), King Records (Cincinnati, OH, 2008), Whiskey A Go-Go (Austin, TX, 2007), Corner Tavern (Cleveland, OH, 2002), Leo's Casino (Cleveland, OH, 1999), Brooklyn High School (Brooklyn, OH, 1998), The Crossroads (Clarksdale, MS), WEWS TV (Cleveland, OH), and WJW AM, Alan Freed's radio station in Cleveland (Cleveland, OH).

Shop and membership

The museum has a shop with exclusive merchandise and a membership program that offers benefits such as access to induction ceremony tickets for select members. The website allows you to subscribe to a newsletter with updates on inductions, events, and discounts.

Institutional information

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Its headquarters is located at Union Home Mortgage Plaza, 1100 Rock & Roll Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio 44114. The institution's website was funded with a grant from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.

Location and contact

Union Home Mortgage Plaza, 1100 Rock & Roll Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio 44114 · Email: info@rockhall.org