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 —

Buddy Holly • Ritchie Valens • J. P. Richardson Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 1, 2015

1. Buddy Holly • Ritchie Valens • J. P. Richardson Marker

Inscription.

The above legends played
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

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(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.)

Surf Ballroom image. Click for more information.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 1, 2015

2. Surf Ballroom

Man to right of entrance is looking at the Rock 'N Roll Legends marker, which is not visible in photo
National Register of Historic Places: Digital Archive on NPGallery website entry
Click for more information.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum Marker, inside image. Click for full size.

October 27, 2023

3. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum Marker, inside

"Surf Ballroom & Museum There are few buildings in existence today that represent a complete shift in our musical history. As the last concert venue for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, the Surf is the bedrock of where the sound and attitude of rock and roll changed forever."

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 846 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 9, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on February 18, 2024.