A Cleveland icon: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame turns 25

On September 1, 1995, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame officially opened in Cleveland Ohio. It opened to the general public the next day. An excerpt from the article:

"It's more than entertainment. It's bigger than a genre.

It isn't just music. Rock 'n' roll is a feeling, a movement and a staple right here in Cleveland.

This year, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame celebrates its silver anniversary as the iconic Cleveland attraction turns 25 years old along the shores of Lake Erie. Since then, more than 13 million people from around the world have walked through its doors.

Find your favorite rock 'n' playlist, crank up the sound and take a tour with us through Rock Hall history.

Why Cleveland?
Rock Hall's roots
Sept. 1, 1995 marked the grand opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum along E. 9th Street in Cleveland. It opened to the general public the following day. But landing its spot on Lake Erie wasn't an overnight event.

It started in 1983 with the birth of the Hall of Fame Foundation. The first induction ceremony came three years later in New York City. Both happened before the Rock Hall even had a place to call home.


With strong contenders throughout the U.S. campaigning for the Rock Hall to set its roots in their cities, Cleveland took the lead. When USA TODAY ran a poll asking its readers where the museum should be, Cleveland outdistanced its nearest competitor by more than 100,000 votes.

"A lot of cities wanted the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and many had a great claim to it," said Greg Harris, CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "Philly had Bandstand, Memphis had wonderful music and Sun Studios, Chicago had it, New Orleans was probably a very viable place. But Cleveland, Ohio, rallied. They raised public dollars, they raised private dollars, they had a wonderful connection to rock and roll history with Alan Freed, a great DJ in the area, and Bill Randle, another great DJ, and really the town embraced it. And together they wanted to have it here. They pitched it, (and) they were rewarded the rights to build it."

Todd Mesek, the former vice president of marketing and communications at the Rock Hall, said Cleveland has a history of breaking artists like Led Zeppelin, David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen.

"Robert Plant came through here and he said when Led Zeppelin did their first tour, their management told them, 'Forget about LA, and forget about New York. You make it in Cleveland, or you go home.' Cleveland has always had that in their DNA."

The final decision to bring the Rock Hall to Cleveland came in May 1986, but shovels didn't break ground until seven years later on June 7, 1993."