Cavern Mecca facts for kids

The building where the Cavern Mecca was once located

A Beatles artwork that was once at Cavern Mecca, now at the Cavern Club

The Cavern Mecca was a special museum in Liverpool, England. It was all about the famous band, The Beatles! The museum opened in 1981 and was named after the legendary Cavern Club. It played a big part in starting Beatles-themed tourism in Liverpool, bringing fans from all over the world to the city. You could find it on the corner of Rainford Square and Mathew Street.

The Cavern Mecca Story

How the Beatles Museum Started

The Cavern Mecca museum was created and managed by a couple named Liz and Jim Hughes. They were super important because they almost single-handedly started the yearly Beatles Convention in Liverpool. This big event is now part of the popular Beatles Week festival. When the museum first opened, The Beatles weren't as popular in Liverpool as they are today. Many people in the city didn't talk much about them.

The Famous Cavern Club

The Cavern Club was a very famous place where The Beatles often played when they were just starting out. They performed there a lot after coming back from Hamburg, Germany. Sadly, the original Cavern Club closed in 1973. It was even filled in with dirt when new underground train tunnels were being built for Merseyrail.

But in the same year the Cavern Mecca opened (1981), there was exciting news! Plans were announced to dig up and reopen the Cavern Club. The club did reopen in 1984, complete with parts of the original club. It stayed open until 1989. Then, it closed again for a short time before reopening in 1991. Today, it's both a music club and a museum.

Why Cavern Mecca Closed

The Cavern Mecca museum closed its doors in December 1984. This happened because one of its founders, Liz Hughes, became unwell. Her husband and co-founder, Jim Hughes, passed away in 2018.

A Record-Breaking Album

In 2003, something amazing happened related to the Cavern Mecca. A special copy of The Beatles' album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, was sold. This album was signed by all the band members! It also came with a souvenir program from the fourth annual Beatles Convention, which was organized by the Cavern Mecca. This unique item sold for a huge amount of money – $290,000! At the time, it was the most expensive signed Beatles album cover ever sold.

See also

• The Beatles Story
• Liverpool Beatles Museum
• List of music museums