This May, Yelpers experienced the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame from a new perspective. The Rock Hall is the world’s foremost museum devoted to the celebration and preservation of rock & roll music. Their mission is to engage, teach and inspire through rock & roll.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, the Rock Hall invited Yelpers to experience their new special exhibit dedicated to the artists who made the festival happen. The exhibit displayed artifacts from Sly & The Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and others. Yelpers transported to 1969 as they immersed themselves in the many rare prints, performance outfits, video footage, tickets, original signage and more of the original Woodstock.
To kick the evening off, Risa Goehrke, Marketing Director of the Rock Hall, greeted Yelpers. Illuminating the Rock Hall’s exciting spring and summer programming, she explained the cultural significance of Woodstock and invited Yelpers to stay for a meet-and-greet with Rock Hall inductees Michael Carabello and Freddie Stone. Yelpers chose their own adventure by touring with Risa, wandering exhibits, visiting the festival photo booth or making flower crowns with The Upcycle Parts Shop.
To kick off the tour, Director of Curatorial Affairs Nwaka Onwusa introduced the special artifacts in the Woodstock at 50 exhibit. Yelp Elite April W. loved exploring, writing, “Admittedly, I don’t know much about Woodstock so being able to learn about the event through photography and artifacts was pretty compelling. I especially enjoyed seeing the event permit for 100,000 people (not the 400,00 that showed up!), original tickets for the event ($7 for one day, $18 for all weekend!), handwritten Jimi Hendrix lyrics and his guitar strap, and the Rolling Stones article announcing the event.”
In addition, the first level contained no shortage of activities as Yelpers snapped in the photo booth with props like a Volkswagen buggy, a fringe vest or peace glasses. A DJ played hits from Woodstock performers like Joan Baez, Santana and Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Upcycle Parts Shop used recycled materials to create unique flower crowns with guests.
Yelp Elite Evan F explored the vast Rock Hall throughout his visit and wrote, “You could truly spend days upon days wandering and exploring this multi-level facility. There is something for everyone and every musical style and taste, and the amount of memorabilia available to see and listen to is mind-boggling.” Clevelanders are lucky to have this wealth of information and history in our own backyard. The Woodstock at 50 exhibit is just one of the vibrant opportunities the Rock Hall offers daily.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame plans year-round, family-friendly programming for explorers and locals to enjoy. Plus, it’s always free for Cleveland city residents! For free live music all summer long, check out Rock Hall Live. Groove inside and out of the Rock Hall to music from talented musicians on the plaza stage and enjoy food trucks, a beer garden and plenty of jams.
Check out the outstanding reviews and photos here. For more information about the Yelp Cleveland Elite Squad, visit yelp.com/elite.
Special thanks to our partners: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame • Elizabeth Sturm Photography
