The station opened on July 10, 1996,[2] when light rail service was extended 2.2 miles (3.5 km) from Tower City along The Flats and along the Lake Erie waterfront.

The station was designed by the firm of Robert P. Madison International, founded by the prominent African American architect.

It was designed to harmonize with the style of the nearby Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, for which the Madison firm was also associate architects.

Each side has a mini-high platform which allow passengers with disabilities to access trains.

When the station opened, it included three separate art projects incorporated into the design:[3] Media related to East 9th–North Coast station at Wikimedia Commons