MUSEUM MISSION

The mission of the Rock 'n Roll & Blues Heritage Museum is to educate the general public about the rich history and evolution of the unique music art form known as Rock 'n Roll, from its roots in the original American music of Blues, Country and Gospel to its diversification from rock 'n roll to rockabilly, rock, hard rock, psychadelic rock, funk, punk, soul and heavy metal as well as to preserve the music's memorabilia spanning several decades, from the 1920's through the 1970's. Our mission is to not only show the influence of Rock 'n Roll music, from its roots to its deriviatives, on American pop culture but also its impact on the popular music and culture around the world.


WHY CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI?

The City of Clarksdale, located at the crossroads of Mississippi Highways 61 and 49 and in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, is known worldwide for its role in the birth of the "Blues".
Clarksdale also holds the historic first for Rock 'n Roll -- ROCKET 88, considered to be the first rock 'n roll record, was composed in the famous Riverside Hotel in Clarksdale in 1951.


HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM

The museum was founded by Theo Dasbach, a Dutch native and avid collector of music memorabilia since his youth. Following his graduation from the Univerisity of Amsterdam, Theo made his first visit to the USA in August of 1978. It was while in Memphis, walking down a then boarded-up Beale Street and listening to the street musicians, Theo envisioned establishing a museum to share his vast music memorabilia collection with the general public. Not quite 20 years later, he opened the doors of the first Rock 'n Roll Museum in The Netherlands on August 16, 1997. Upon retiring from his professional career in 2004, Theo relocated with his family to the USA. After locating a suitable building in August of 2005, a hectic pace was maintained to re-establish the museum and the larger space allowed for expansion of displays and memorabilia. In keeping with the August tradition, the Rock 'n Roll & Blues Heritage Museum officially opened in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on August 5, 2006. The museum, operating under Rock 'n Roll Museum Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity.