NEW YORK— The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC, a New York branch of the Cleveland museum, opened this week at 76 Mercer Street in SoHo, the New York Times reports. The $9 million outpost, housed in a 25,000-square-foot basement space, focuses on New York rock culture, with a special gallery devoted to local musicians and temporary exhibitions that change biannually. The first show, "Revolution Rock," is devoted to The Clash.

A full tour of the annex takes about 90 minutes, costs $26, and includes headsets that play programmed music for each of the six galleries as well as sound for videos. Rock culture memorabilia on display includes Michael Jackson's handwritten lyrics to Billie Jean, letters between Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, Elvis Presley's bible, and a urinal from CBGB's notorious bathroom.

According to Joel Peresman, president of the Hall of Fame Foundation, the New York museum is part of an expansion plan by the organization to boost tourism and finances. The annex, which took two years to create, has a three-year lease that will be renewed if the branch is successful.

"The legitimacy of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we've established that over 25 years," said Peresman. "But in New York you have to prove yourself, whether you're a sports team or a museum. We have an important story to tell. And you have to have something interesting and compelling; otherwise, New Yorkers are going to blow it off."