January marks the 25th anniversary of the first artists, among them James Brown, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, is a monument to the most influential artists and producers in the history of rock music.The I.M. Pei-designed building has been home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since it opened in 1995. Its seven levels contain permanent and changing exhibits that document the history of rock and roll; the actual Hall of Fame, featuring glass panels etched with all of the inductees’ signatures; and five theaters for showing music-related films.Current exhibits include “U2 3D,” the first live-action digital 3-D film. The 3-D images and multi-channel surround sound let viewers experience the energy of a stadium concert played by U2, one of the world’s best-known bands and a 2005 Hall of Fame inductee.”Treasures from the Vault” is an exhibit that showcases artifacts from the museum’s storage vault. You might see costumes, instruments, concert programs, handwritten notes and other items from artists like Tina Turner, James Taylor, The Bee Gees, Billy Joel, Metallica, Green Day or The Clash.Through the end of February, visitors can tour the exhibit “From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen,” which is the first major artifact-driven exhibit on Springsteen’s career. The exhibit features several of Springsteen’s guitars, including the Fender Esquire from the iconic cover of the album “Born to Run;” numerous handwritten lyric manuscripts, posters and handbills from all phases of his career; and the 1960 Corvette he purchased after the success of “Born to Run.”For more information on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and other sights to see in Cleveland, talk with our travel professionals.
