Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame may have a five-year head start, but Seattle's Experience Music Project, which opens June 23, is betting that its emphasis on technology will lure music fans curious to learn about pop music's past.
The Experience Music Project is "the cutting edge of what we should expect in a museum in the 21st century," said Bob Santelli, vice president of education and public programs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, who will assume a similar role at EMP in August. "When you go to EMP, you're going to walk away with a lot of knowledge and inspiration. You're also going to have a lot of fun."
A nearby display case holds a tattered Harmony Stratotone guitar that rockabilly pioneer Carl Perkins played in 1957. Another holds a black leather jacket worn by Elvis Presley in the early '60s. Near the rear are more contemporary displays documenting the history of hip-hop and showcasing memorabilia from popular rock groups such as Sonic Youth.