Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

I. M. Pei's glass pyramid on the Lake Erie shoreline is the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which honours the musicians, songwriters and producers inducted into the music industry's best-known hall of fame. The building opened in 1995. Cleveland won the museum partly on its claim to rock history: local disc jockey Alan Freed helped popularise the term rock and roll in the early 1950s.

Inside, the galleries trace the music from its roots in blues, gospel, country and rhythm and blues through to later genres. Visitors find guitars and other instruments, stage costumes, handwritten lyrics, posters and personal belongings of artists, along with films and listening stations. A dedicated space celebrates the inductees, whose ranks grow with each year's induction class.

The museum draws about half a million visitors a year. It suits music fans of every generation, and those with a strong interest in rock history can easily fill several hours.