The Crickets split up a year later. Due to financial problems caused by the breakup, Holly went on a winter tour in the Midwest - an exhausting schedule of twenty-four performances in twenty-four days. The freezing weather, unheated buses, and breakdowns caused so many problems that halfway through the tour Holly charted a small plane to go to the next stop. Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper, J.P. Richardson, part of the tour group, joined Holly. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff killing everyone on board. Buddy Holly was only 22 years old.
The museum is small and we were disappointed that there weren't headphones to listen to the music. The exhibits tell the story of Buddy Holly's life and short career but very little about the tragic plane crash. No photos are allowed in the Buddy Holly galleries but, not realizing that the restriction covered both galleries, I took some photos of the bedroom suite Buddy Holly had as a teenager and a dinette set that Buddy and Maria Elena Holly had in their New York City apartment. The museum also includes a fine arts gallery featuring changing exhibits by local and regional artists.
We missed touring the J.I. Allison House, where Allison, the drummer of the band "The Crickets" lived as a teenager, and where many of the group's songs were written.
The parking lot is large enough for any vehicle. Center 33.5785, -101.8423
