I Toured the Rock Hall’s Expansion with a Cleveland Radio Legend

By Julie D’Aloiso The front sign is gone and a few lobby pieces are being refreshed, but there is still so much to see I have walked into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame many times, but Tuesday felt different. Right away I noticed the plaza sign out front was gone, and inside a few familiar pieces were missing too. The museum is renovating items in the lobby, so some displays have been pulled for now. None of that dimmed the visit. There is still so much to see, and knowing the construction means something bigger is coming made the whole trip feel exciting. A guide who knows every note My guide was Jim Davison, a Cleveland broadcast engineer with 49 years in the business. Jim has engineered radio at the Rock Hall for more than two decades. He seems to have worked at nearly every station in the area, and he can trace the arc of rock history without missing a beat. Walking the floor with him is like touring the museum with a living archive. A sign in storage and a lobby in transition The plaza sign that spelled out those famous words has come down, and the museum has put the letters in storage. A brand new sign will take its place out front. In the lobby, several displays have been removed while staff refresh and restore them. It felt like progress rather than loss, and it hinted at how much the finished space will offer. Every exhibit stayed open Here is the good news for anyone planning a trip. Despite all the work, every exhibit was open during my visit. I moved from gallery to gallery without hitting a single closed door. The museum committed early to staying open through construction, and on Tuesday that promise held up. The exhibits that stuck with me A few stops stood out, and I enjoyed every one. The newer Saturday Night Live exhibit pulled me right in, with decades of music from that stage gathered in one place. I also loved the Wings exhibit, which follows Paul McCartney’s run after the Beatles. The high point was the Power of Rock film, a 12 minute experience that brought me to tears even thought I saw it before. It was that good. What the $135 million buys The project is a $135 million expansion that adds 50,000 square feet and grows the museum by about 40 percent. Crews broke ground in October 2023 and expect to finish this fall. The centerpiece is Patty and Jay Baker Hall, a flexible venue for concerts, events and school programs that can hold as many as 1,400 people. A new entry lobby, a student center and reimagined galleries fill out the rest of the addition. A visit worth making now If you have been waiting for the expansion to open before you go, I would not wait. Tuesday reminded me that the Rock Hall is still very much worth the trip, even mid transformation. Seeing the space between eras, with the old sign down and the new building rising, felt like a rare moment. Come fall, the museum will look different, and I am already glad I caught it now. About Jim Davison Jim Davison has spent 49 years behind the boards of Northeast Ohio broadcasting. He got his start in 1977. Since then he has worked at a long list of area stations, from WRMR and WDOK to WCLV and WHK. In 2003 he joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a studio engineer. There he produced Norm N. Nite’s weekly show, “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” for a New York audience. His credits read like a broadcasting hall of fame. He has engineered for radio icons like Bill Randle, Cousin Brucie, Casey Kasem, Mark Goodman and Mojo Nixon. His work also reached Dan Rather, ABC News, NBC Sports and the MLB Radio Network. He also worked with Gary Dell’Abate and Michael Smerconish. On Dawg Pound Radio he teamed with Bernie Kosar and Jim Donovan. Jim earned a spot in the Radio and Television Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2009. He lives with his wife, Lori, and son, Zachary, in Northfield Village. He remains a walking encyclopedia of rock and roll. Frequently Asked Questions Is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame open during construction? Yes. Every exhibit was open during my visit, and the museum committed early to staying open through the entire project. When will the Rock Hall expansion be finished? The project is on track to wrap this fall. Leaders are aiming for a certificate of occupancy in October, with the first major events set for early December. How much does the expansion cost? The expansion carries a price tag of $135 million, funded mostly through private gifts along with state support. How big is the new space? The addition brings 50,000 square feet and grows the museum by about 40 percent. What is being added? The centerpiece is Patty and Jay Baker Hall, a flexible venue that can hold as many as 1,400 people. The plan also includes a new entry lobby, a student center, reimagined galleries and an outdoor community park. What happened to the Long Live Rock sign? The museum took the letters down and placed them in storage. A brand new sign will greet visitors out front, and the Rock Hall says the old lette