Since its opening in 1995, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland has been visited by nearly eight million people from around the world. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum honors a new series of inductees each year, all of which have made great contributions to the genre of rock and roll. Just a selection of the many artists honored in the hall of fame include Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, the Supremes, Eric Clapton, and Queen. Along with the hall of fame, the museum contains a countless number of artifacts related to the hall of fame inductees and the genre of rock and roll. As a result, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a must-see not just for rock and roll fans, but for music lovers in general.
Best and Worst Times to Go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
The best time to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is on a Saturday between Memorial Day and Labor Day or on any Wednesday, because the museum stays open until 9 p.m. on those days.
Otherwise, the museum is open from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, when it is closed.
The worst time to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is from November-March, since inclement weather may make road conditions hazardous.
Must See/Do at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Some of the exhibits at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum are there on a temporary basis, but there are still plenty of must-see permanent exhibits, such as the Hall of Fame Inductee Gallery, which features a multimedia presentation and a walkway engraved with the signatures of inductees.
One of the other must-sees at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is the exhibit for the Beatles, which contains the most comprehensive collection of Beatles-related items in the world, with some highlight artifacts being Paul McCartney's handwritten arrangement for the song "Birthday" and John Lennon's Gibson J-160E acoustic guitar.
In order to learn about rock and roll's origins, visitors should walk through the Roots of Rock and Roll exhibit, which explores how rock and roll sprung out of gospel, blues, country/folk/bluegrass, and R&B by featuring artifacts from some of the artists that made important contributions to each genre, such as the Soul Sisters, B.B. King, Hank Williams, and Ray Charles.
Admission to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Admission to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum ranges from $13-$22. Children ages eight and under can be admitted to the museum for free along with the purchase of an adult ticket.
Greater Cleveland residents, senior citizens, college students, and military members can receive discounted admission to the museum with ID.
Tickets can be purchased online or upon arrival at the museum.
Parking and Public Transportation to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Visitors to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum can park in the Great Lakes Science Center parking garage for a $2 discount, but the garage is not available to museum visitors when the Cleveland Browns football team has a home game or there is some other event at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The North Point Garage and the Pier, Ninth Street, and Coast Guard parking lots are all located within walking distance of the museum, but are usually busy during Cleveland Browns football games and charge a high fee on those days.
If parking is hard to find close to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the staff recommends that visitors park further away and take public transportation to the museum. Visitors should check the "Directions and Parking" tab on the museum's website to learn about Cleveland's bus, trolley, and rail transportation systems that can transport them to the museum.
Food at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum has its own restaurant on-site called the Rock Hall Café.
The Rock Hall Café is located on the third floor of the museum and gives guests a good view of the other floors below.
Visitors to the café have the option to choose between hot or cold meals, as well as a variety of desserts and beverages.
Insider Tip for Visitors to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is just an hour away from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Those who wish to visit both locations can purchase special Hall Pass tickets which provide access to both halls of fame for a discounted price. Hall Pass tickets can be purchased online or at the box office at either location for a price of $27-$43.
Miranda Roehler grew up in Northwest Ohio. She studied Creative Writing and History at The University of Findlay and has been published in multiple international journals.
The Western Reserve Historical Society, a not-for-profit educational institution and museum based in University Circle, was founded in 1867 to preserve and promote the history of the people of northeast Ohio. It is the largest privately supported regional historical society in the nation and serves as an educational resource for students, the general public and scholars. The museum store, Past & Presents, offers books, t-shirts, souvenirs and other items that celebrate the history and culture of the region.
The Sculpture Center is a non-profit organization founded to support the careers of emerging Ohio sculptors. They preserve Ohio outdoor sculpture for the enrichment, education, enjoyment and visual enhancement of the northeast Ohio region. It has preserved and maintained more than 30 outdoor sculptures in the area by raising funds, commissioning conservationists and enlisting volunteers. Admission to the Sculpture Center is free. Exhibit programs vary.
