Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Buddy Holly Ritchie Valens J. P. Richardson
In Memory Of Rock 'N Roll Legends
Their Music Lives On
their last concert at the
Surf Ballroom,
Clear Lake, Iowa,
on February 2, 1959.
Their earthly life
tragically ended in a
plane crash 5.2 miles
northwest of the
Mason City Airport.
February 3, 1959
Pilot Roger Peterson
Erected by Darrel R. Hein & Family.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Arts, Letters, Music • Disasters • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is February 2, 1959.
Location. 43° 8.378′ N, 93° 23.386′ W. Marker is in Clear Lake, Iowa, in Cerro Gordo County. Marker is on North Shore Drive west of Buddy Holly Place, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 460 North Shore Drive, Clear Lake IA 50428, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Surf Ballroom (a few steps from this marker); Three Stars Plaza (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Iowa and the Battle of Pleasant Hill (approx. 0.4 miles away); Clear Lake in the Civil War (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Clear Lake in the Civil War (approx. 0.4 miles away); Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Clear Lake Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clear Lake.
Also see . . .
1. Surf Ballroom History. Ballroom website (Submitted on October 9, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Plane Crash May Be Re-examined. KTLA 5 entry, 2015 (Submitted on October 9, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 854 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 9, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on February 18, 2024.