Virtual Roadtrip: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

The Center of the Universe for Rock & Roll Music

Stop #17 on our Virtual Road Trip is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio! The Hall of Fame was established on April 20, 1983, by Ahmet Ertegun, founder and chairman of Atlantic Records. The iconic building housing the world-class collection was designed by architect I.M. Pei and dedicated on September 1, 1995. The Rock Hall’s mission is to tell the story of Rock & Roll through interactive exhibits and teach and inspire the next generation of music fans and rock legends.

The museum is impressively organized on seven levels inside the double pyramid-shaped glass building. The largest gallery, Ahmet Ertegun Exhibit Hall, is on the lower level and covers every music genre, cities with influential music scenes, and hundreds of artists. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, located on the third floor, is accessed after watching the film “The Power of Rock Experience.” The top two floors feature rotating temporary exhibits and warrant a visit on their own merit.

Congrats to the 2020 Inductees:
– Depeche Mode
– Nine Inch Nails
– T.Rex
– The Doobie Brothers
– The Notorious B.I.G
– Whitney Houston

Ahmet Ertegun Award-Winners:
– Jon Landau
– Irving Azoff

Travel Tip: Buy your tickets in advance and try to arrive at the museum early in the day, especially if you want to explore the Ahmet Ertegun Exhibit without crowds. Expect to spend at least half a day making your way to the top of the 55,000 square-foot building. Watch the films, they are short and run frequently. Definitely consider having lunch in the café on the first floor of the museum— you can also take your food outside. Don’t forget to stop in the gift shop and purchase something to memorialize your visit to the Rock Hall!!

Following the Connection

David Grohl, the iconic rock star, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of Nirvana. He will most likely be inducted for a second time in 2021 along with his band, Foo Fighters. Grohl is from Warren, Ohio, and the name “Foo Fighters” comes from a term used to describe a UFO sighting by the U.S. 415th Night Fighter Squadron.

Next Stop: International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell, New Mexico

Detour: Visit the Rhythm! Discovery Center, the world’s leading drum and percussion museum, located in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Rhythm! features unique, interactive exhibits highlighting a rich collection of historic artifacts and hands-on percussion instruments.

Plan Your Trip

Cleveland, Ohio, is a great Midwest city that continues to invest and redevelop itself to provide amazing experiences for visitors. From the waterfront along Lake Erie the to the other unique neighborhoods, there are attractions, sports, restaurants, and shopping experiences for everyone to enjoy. Here are some recommendations from the travel desk at Check-it-Off Travel to consider while planning a trip to the museum.

Photo: Shutterstock/f11 photo