A printable version

of a full-page graphic

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The full-page graphic appearing in Sunday’s

Plain Dealer gives an idea of how

the Rock and

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all of Fame and M

useum’s curators plan

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useum’s floor plan.

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orth Coast Harbor, and

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artifacts and exhibits on the fly.

This renovation gives them

a chance to step back, rethink their presentation and perhaps m

ake their world-class collection

a bit more accessible.

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Plans don’t call for much renovation for the signature, I.M. Pei-designed superstructure beyond a general smartening-up.

A trip through the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is going to consist of two main segments:The main (lower) floor tour …

… and the climb through the upper building, culminating in a double-back to the Hall of Fame.

That’s the way the place is designed. No amount of renovation is going to change it, and this will always throw a kink into any e�ort to present the collection in a linear way — especially as some of the exhibits in the upper floors are among the most important in the entire building.

Vice President of Exhibitions and Curatorial A�airs Jim Henke points out several o�-the-beaten-track gems within the collection that you should not miss.

The current renovations, scheduled to be completed in early 2012, represent the first chance in the 15 years since the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opened for curators to step back, take a deep breath and organize their ever-growing avalanche of artifacts into a coherent narrative.

The Hall of Fame Signature Wall circles the theater.

Ticket kiosk

The Hall of Fame entrance foyer will be easier to spot with a new, bright-red carpet.

Open space to be used for featured, temporary exhibits such as the current “From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen.”

The 250-seat Foster Theater has been renovated and digitized to serve as a lecture hall, broadcast space for educational programs, and occasionally as a performance space.

C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E

M A I N E N T R A N C E

The 150-seat Hall of Fame Theater shows films of Rock Hall inductees’ performances. This not only helps put the somber “signature wall” in perspective, it’s also a nice place to sit down at the end of a long visit.

Two experiments by guitar innovator Les Paul: Guitars made from a wood plank and a piece of railroad track.

Still Cleveland’s own: The ashes of “Moondog Coronation Ball” legend DJ Alan Freed.

Very little changeto the upstairs

A simple narrative path isn’t easy in this building

Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”

display

Cafe and patio

Gift shop/music store area

The main goal of the renovations is to simplify what can be a chaotic trip through the Ahmet M. Ertegun Main Exhibition Hall. Patrons often don’t know where to turn and can miss important artifacts in the confusion.

When renovations are complete, a clear line through the exhibit hall will be established by a few rearranged walls and the addition of sliding glass partitions. Better sound design and direction within the hall will also help patrons focus on individual exhibits.

And the exhibits themselves will get an upgrade with the installation of high-tech LED lighting. This will not only enhance the hall’s stagecraft with better light control, but will also help preserve light-sensitive paper and cloth artifacts.

Video displays introducing current events

“MysteryTrain”theater

Temporary exhibit area

… Videos and descriptions of early protests against rock ’n’ roll music

Audiokiosks

The “jungle gym” area, as it’s informally called by Rock Hall employees, includes some of the most famous stage props and clothing articles in music history.

The current “Ohio musicians” exhibit in this circle will be broken into two separate exhibits:

E N T R A N C EL O B B Y

Midwestern Rock and Roll …

… and Cleveland’scontributors.

E A R L YI N F L U E N C E S

D O N ’ T K N O C K T H E R O C KExhibit cases commemorating individual cities’ contributions to the development of rock ’n’ roll.

R O C K S C E N E S

This collection celebrates the contributions of individual groups or performers. Its centerpiece is a stunning Beatles exhibit.

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Sliding glass panel

Videowall

Jeff Beck’s guitar from his days as lead guitarist for 1960s supergroup The Yardbirds.

Clash fans, look sharp: This case contains Joe Strummer’s well-worn Fender Telecaster guitar, donated by his family.

Sliding glass panel

Record company rejection letters received by Irish supergroup U2.

The strangest footwear you’ll see all day: George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog” boots.

The Cleveland collection’s very first acquisition: The guitar on which “Who” legend Pete Townshend wrote “Tommy.”

Big change comes to the main floor