This Iowa landmark is one of 4 (that I remember) that requires a drive in the country, while…read moreenjoying the vast stretches of rural beauty. The other 3 are the Estherville Meteorite, the highest point in Iowa (Hawkeye Point at 1670 feet), and the Field of Dreams baseball diamond. 75 years after that fateful plane crash, folks are still coming to the informal shrine to "Where the Music Died". They come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They turn into the small parking lot, not knowing for sure why they're doing it. We arrived as innocent as children, longing for the past. People will come, Ray. OK, that's from Field of Dreams, but it fits. After a brisk walk of about 1/2 mile starting from the big glasses, what I found was a stainless steel guitar and a set of three stainless steel records marking the exact spot where the plane carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, & JP ''The Big Bopper'' Richardson came to rest following their final concert at the Surf Ballroom in nearby Clear Lake. A second monument was erected on the 50th anniversary of the tragedy honoring their pilot, Roger Peterson. Waylon Jennings was also at the Surf that day, but gave up his seat to Richardson, and took the bus. When Holly learned that Jennings wasn't going to fly, he said in jest, ''Well, I hope your ol' bus freezes up'' and Jennings responded, also in jest, ''Well, I hope your ol' plane crashes''. This would haunt Jennings for the rest of his life. Dad stayed in the car while I completed my lone pilgrimage. The visit was short, the day was cool, and this fan monument was insightful and worth the trip to this lonely stretch where unfortunate history was made. I hope that any person reading this review has a chance to visit here and the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, which is the site of Buddy Holly's last performance.

Took a detour of the road during my travels today and visited the Buddy Holly Crash Site. Popular…read morespot to stop and view the crazy tragedy that occurred on 2/3/59. The trail head to the crash site (which is located in a corn field) is marked by a large pair of Buddy-Holly type glasses. You can park on the side of the road, and then walk through the corn field on a well-travelled path to the crash site, which has some fan-made memorials there. I placed my sunglasses in the middle of the bridge of Buddy Holly's glasses in the photo attached. True artists and RIP to all that past that day. RIP Highly recommend checking out this spot. Pretty cool to see.

It's amazing that even 65 years after one of pop culture's defining tragic moments happened, people…read moreare still coming to visit here. Yes, this is where the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Big Bopper happened. It is on a farm field, and I am grateful the owners let people walk a-ways to where the memorial is. It is about a half-mile from the parking lot, or where the oversized dark-rimmed glasses are from the road. Try to wear old shoes or boots when the grounds are wet. To get here, just plug it into your GPS. There are no signs that guide you there. Park in the "Day the Music Died" parking lot, and there are johnny toilets available. And please, pick up after yourself.

"I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed…read morebride But something touched me deep inside" Five miles outside of Clear Lake, Iowa up a county road, then a gravel road and then a 1/2 mile hike on a dirt trail through a corn field, lies a marker that marks the spot in 1959 where a small plane crashed. It is a pilgrimage that I have always wanted to do The isolated location and the majestic autumnal cloud formations created a somber and silent Sunday afternoon trek that was heavier than I expected. We streamed Buddy Holly's catalogue in route and American Pie on our exit. An afternoon I'll always remember. "But not a word was spoken The church bells all were broken"

Such an amazing experience! Pictures do not do it justice. Make sure you do the free tour when you…read morego, I believe they run on the hour, check their website for times. Don't miss the church. Free tours. Donations accepted but not required. Plenty of parking available, lot and street. They also have a nice gift shop.

Very interesting art work of a man's vision on how to serve a mother and son. The lady who gave the…read moretour was excellent and very caring on what she knew about the people and shrine. Thanks to the director For helping us finding the camp site and water, asking us the next day how things were. Thanks to the lady in gift shop for being so kind to help us get some one to give us a jump start. And the man who helped. Found this place amazing. Quiet camping. Very relaxing. All in all everyone should or needs to enjoy this wonderful place. Thank you for everything

Dickinson County, the smallest Iowa county in land area, is named in honor of Daniel S. Dickinson,…read morea lawyer and senator from New York. Starting with Rowland Gardner, this area was first settled in 1856. The first courthouse was partially completed in 1860. At that point it was used as a barracks for Civil War troops, was completed in 1868, and destroyed by fire 1872. A second courthouse was constructed using the salvageable bricks of the first courthouse. However, it was soon deemed unsatisfactory and condemned in 1880. In September 1889 a $15,000 bond issue was passed for the construction of a 3rd courthouse that was completed in 1891. This Courthouse (including the 1957, 1976, and 1978 additions) was the one I saw when I was growing up at the Lake and coming back during my College summers. But all good things must come to an end, as and old and tired Courthouse III was eventually condemned. Courthouse IV is now just a few years old and during our last trip to Spirit Lake, Gayle and I walked from the Cabin to take a look. Actually the Building itself was closed, so we admired the Veteran's Plaza that honors those who served (and returned) and the others who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Country. There's also a Tower in front of the Main Building which honors the previous 3 Courthouses, and features an interior that tastefully provides Lakes Area information for visitors. It's a beauty of a place and Gayle and I were both impressed. Later on we obtained a booklet commemorating the grand opening of the new Courthouse. We'll be back to finish our tour with an interior walk. Now if the good folks in Spirit Lake could work on restoring that lovely old Carnegie Library across the Street?

This review is for the museum and the historical part of the place. The Surf Ballroom is best…read moreremembered as the final place that Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Big Bopper performed just hours before the tragic fatal plane crash. The place is not just a museum and landmark but it is mostly an events place as well as still being a music venue! The museum is self-guided and free, though donations are encouraged. They also have a souvenir shop so be prepared to spend some $$. But plan on at least an hour just looking around if you're a rock and roll history geek like me. Several photos on the wall and memorabilia. You'll be very surprised on who has played here - from the 1940s big bands to modern-day rock and pop/country acts. Be sure to step onto behind the stage as well as the green room. I could go on, but be sure to check this out for yourself sometime. Yes, the location is in central-northern Iowa, one of the least visited spots in the USA. It's between the Twin Cities and Des Moines, but driving all the way to Clear Lake to check this out is, in my mind, worth it. Check it out!

Wow...so much history here! I had no idea what I was walking into here...its definitely a must do…read morefor anyone with a love for music.

A must see if you enjoy learning the history of the area you are visiting. Nice little info…read morecenter/museum along side the cabin, the cabin itself and family cemetery. Read the story of Abby Gardner's tragic past of her family massacred by Indians and she held hostage. She returned to the area later and founded the museum.

The Gardner Cabin was first known as one of the sites of the 1857 "Spirit Lake Massacre" and later…read morebecame one of Iowa's first tourist attractions. The Cabin is located just outside of the Amusement Park and is an interesting reminder of one of Iowa's tragic Frontier events. Here you can learn the dramatic stories of Abbie Gardner and the Dakota leader, Inkpaduta. The State Historical Society of Iowa owns and preserves the Gardner Cabin and Museum, which has been restored to its 1856 appearance. The park's visitor center features artifacts relating to the period, the European-American settlers and the Sioux. Legends and ghost stories related to the events are recounted still. Psychics have told of contacting the "friendly" spirit of Abigail Gardner. Other people claim that after a visit to the Gardner Cabin, furniture and other belongings were rearranged at their homes. Beside the possibility of receiving some new home decorating tips, I like visiting here as I love history, it reminds me where I'm from, and I enjoy a short break from all the resort activity.

Emmet County was organized in 1859, and is bounded on the north by the state of Minnesota; on the…read moreeast by Kossuth County; on the south by Palo Alto County; and on the west by Dickinson County. Land mass is 408 square miles and it contains several lakes that afford good fishing and hunting. There are a total of six incorporated towns in Emmet County that include: Armstrong, Dolliver, Estherville, Gruver, Ringsted and Wallingford. Estherville is the county seat. The first courthouse for Emmet County was in the town's first school building located where the post office now stands. An election in 1879 moved the county seat from Estherville to Swan Lake. A couple years later, it was moved back. The first courthouse was built in 1883 and was located between the present library and courthouse. That first courthouse was torn down in 1958 when the present courthouse was constructed. During my childhood stay in Estherville, I never got enough trouble to visit the Sheriff hear, but do remember Family involvement with the County Assessor's, Recorder's, and Clerk's Offices. Speaking of which and as a Public Service under Iowa Marriage License Information: Are proxy marriages legal? No, marriage by proxy is not allowed. Are cousin marriages legal? No, cousin marriages are not allowed. Are common law marriages legal? Yes, common-law marriages are allowed. Are same sex marriages legal? Yes, same-sex marriages are allowed. There's no residency requirement and my parent's Lake Cabin Dock would make a great place for vows. So what are you waiting for?

I went in to transfer my trailer registration from IL to IA. They gave me static about doing it…read morebecause my permanent residence is in IL even though I plan to keep it at my place in IA. They then fined me for not doing it sooner even though my current registration was good. Typical ECC.

If you're a rock and roll fan this is a must visit! We went to the Surf Ballroom in the morning and…read moredecided we wanted to see the crash site afterwards. It's about a 10 mile drive, you'll see a small parking a lot across the street from the Buddy Holly glasses. It is private property, but the owner is gracious enough to allow visitors and they maintain the pathway to the spot. It's about the half mile walk from the street, and it's eerily quiet! It's very somber when you get there and realize this is the spot where "The Music Died". People leave their mementos, which is cool. Definitely a must visit!