Writer: Dan Ray Photographer: Joelle Blanchard Despite Iowa’s out-of-state reputation as simply a big field of corn — or my personal favorite, Idaho — we have quite a few unique attractions. There’s the world’s largest truck stop west of Davenport, where you can buy everything from a cover for your steering wheel to a bath for your dog. There’s the old windmill that was shipped in pieces from Denmark and reassembled in Elk Horn. Plus the filming locations for “The Bridges of Madison County” and “Field of Dreams.” And now, there’s a new museum dedicated to music history. The Surf Ballroom Music Experience Center opened in September next door to the legendary Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, which is gearing up for the annual Winter Dance Party Jan. 29 through Feb. 3. If you’re unfamiliar with the story of Surf Ballroom, here’s a brief recap: On Feb. 2, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson played a show at the Surf, a big-band era dance hall in Clear Lake. Their Winter Dance Party tour had been zig-zagging all over the frigid Midwest. Some of the musicians caught the flu. One even suffered frostbite after the heater broke down on the bus. Frustrated, Holly chartered a plane to the tour’s next stop in Minnesota, but flying conditions were poor. The plane was only in the air for three to five minutes before it crashed in a snowy field. The wreckage was found the next morning, along with the bodies of Holly, Valens, Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson. The incident became known as “The Day the Music Died” and was memorialized in Don McLean’s 1971 hit, “American Pie.” It’s a tragedy musicians and fans continuously return to because it begs the question: What could have been? “The Big Bopper suggested that eventually jukeboxes would come with video devices where you could pull up on demand whatever you wanted to see,” Surf Ballroom CEO Brian Luallen said. “If that’s not YouTube, I don’t know what is.” STEP BACK IN TIME The ballroom was dedicated as a National Historical Landmark in 2021 and has long stood as both a music venue and showcase of old photos and artifacts, a place for live music alongside echoes from an earlier era. Attending a show there, or even just walking across the empty dance floor, is a genuinely awe-inspiring experience that I highly recommend, especially if you’ve never visited. The new museum isn’t as historic as the ballroom itself, but it makes you feel closer to the musicians it highlights. Walk in and you’ll see a few glass cases filled with iconic artifacts, like Gene Simmons’ axe bass and a pair of boots signed by Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley. But the main attraction sits behind black double doors. Open them, and you’ll face the back of a giant curved screen lined with a few artifacts, including the mic that Holly used during that final show. Keep going and you’ll make your way to the front of the screen and a new room, which I can only describe as a music planetarium. A video with surround sound reviews the Surf’s history with a montage of waves, famous performers, and that fateful day when the plane was found in the snow. When the video finishes, the screen offers an assortment of 130 pop-up bubbles that cover everything from ’50s fashion to Creedence Clearwater Revival. If you wave at them, they open and share details about the topic at hand. The walls behind you fill with black-and-white pictures of musicians, as if they’re all sitting in the bleachers at a high school pep rally, and whenever a spotlight lands on a particular photo, it turns to color. As you walk around the room, learning about Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beach Boys and others who’ve played at the Surf over the years, musical notes follow your footsteps. “We wanted to have an emotional journey with the three musicians” — Holly, Valens and Richardson — “with the history of rock and roll, and with the whole history of the Surf,” said Kirsten Holmes, whose company, Trivium Interactive, created the display. “These three stories run parallel in the intro film to create this wider tapestry.” My suggestion: Start at the new museum and meet the musicians of the past. Then go next door for a show and meet the musicians of the present. After the show, go home, and if you feel inspired, start practicing to become a musician of the future. MUSEUM HIGHLIGHTS Of all the artifacts at the new Surf Ballroom Music Experience, here are a few that stand out: Buddy Holly’s microphone from his final show. Les Paul’s original blueprints for the electric guitar, as well as an early prototype — one of just two known to still exist. Slash’s hat and guitar. (You’ll feel cool just standing next to them.) Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Jump On It” record, which includes “Baby Got Back,” the single that was briefly banned from MTV. WINTER DANCE PARTY 2026 Since 1979, the Surf Ballroom has hosted an annual Winter Dance Party tribute show to honor the legacies of Holly, Valens and Richardson. At this year’s party, catch a handful of concerts along with a dance contest, a costume competition, and a whole lot of rock ‘n’ roll. Jan. 29: Jay the Americans, Austin Allsup, and Richie Lee the Fabulous 50s. Jan. 30: The Killer Vees featuring Chris Montez and Brian Hyland, the Drifters, the Whitesidewalls, and the Holy Rocka Rollaz. Jan. 31: Billy F. Gibbons and the BFGs, Slim Jim Phantom, Midnight Cowgirls featuring Albert Lee, Linda Gail Lewis, and Danny B. Harvey Annie Marie Lewis. Feb. 2: John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party. For details and tickets, visit surfballroom.com. ...read more read less