Iconic Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Turns 30 — What To Know About Its History

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum has officially been a Cleveland staple for three decades.

Music industry officials — including Ahmet Ertegun, Jann Wenner and others — founded the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in New York City on April 20, 1983. Cleveland opted into the running when the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation aimed to choose a location for a physical museum. And “thanks to a groundswell of public support and a $65 million commitment from city officials, the Foundation chose Cleveland as the winning site,” according to the Rock Hall.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame broke ground on June 7, 1993. Doors to the music history and memorabilia behemoth officially opened on the Lake Erie coast on September 2, 1995. James Brown, Bob Dylan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash and Booker T. and the M.G.s were among those in the star-studded lineup of a “blockbuster benefit concert” at that time. Little Richard and Yoko Ono attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, per the Rock Hall.

Since opening to the public, the iconic venue that pays tribute to many of the most legendary musicians throughout history has drawn millions of guests through its doors. Here are some things to know about the museum on its 30th birthday:

• In 1983, more than a decade before the museum opened, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was established with the hope of creating a destination celebrating all things rock.
• Cleveland “threw its hat into the ring” to be the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in 1985, according to the Hall of Fame.
• Ultimately, Cleveland beat out the competition from “a number of cities (that) sought the museum,” according to Ohio History Central.
• One reason could be because a petition garnered more than 600,000 signatures from residents to have the museum in Cleveland, according to the Connection, formerly known as the Ohio Historical Society.
• Another draw to Cleveland is that it is home to Alan Freed, the radio DJ credited with coining the term “Rock and Roll” in the 1950s, according to Ohio History Central.
• Plus, the city committed $65 million dollars to the construction of the museum, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cleveland won over New York, San Francisco, Memphis, Chicago and other cities.

• The museum's groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 7, 1993, and included a star-studded guest list: Pete Townshend of The Who, Chuck Berry, Billy Joel and more. One year later, Jerry Lee Lewis performed when all that was left to finish the building was one steel beam.
• On its opening day, September 2, 1995, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame “celebrated with a blockbuster benefit concert,” featuring James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash and more. Little Richard and Yoko Ono attended the ribbon-cutting, and opening weekend included a parade through downtown Cleveland, according to the Rock Hall.
• The museum honors Rock and Roll history as well as Hall of Fame inductees in four categories: Performers, Non-Performers, Early Influences and Side-Men. Inductees don’t necessarily have to be performers as long as they’re affiliated with the genre, according to Ohio History Connection. Performers are eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first album.

Here are the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (the inaugural induction ceremony took place on January 23, 1986 in New York City):

• Chuck Berry
• James Brown
• Ray Charles
• Fats Domino
• The Everly Brothers
• Buddy Holly
• Jerry Lee Lewis
• Elvis Presley

Here’s the performer category in the Class of 2025:

• Bad Company
• Chubby Checker
• Joe Cocker
• Cyndi Lauper
• OutKast
• Soundgarden
• The White Stripes