LIFE before becoming the
Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers

Karen and Lee Duquette's FLASHBACK in Fort Worth, Texas
Flachback signclock running backwatds

July 20 - 22, 2006

USA map showing location of Fort Worth, Texas

Karen Duquette did not post these pictures posted until 2023. In the beginning, Flashbacks were not considered for this site, but they are now slowly being added. And because they sold their house in 2008 and live full-time in their RV, which has limited storage, many photos were lost long before this website even existed. But as with all of the Flashback photos as well as current photos, they are posted as a reminder of fun places and people, and to maybe help people decide if they wish to visit these places. Karen also tries to put a bit of history when possible.

History BookFort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the 13th-largest city in the United States. It is also the second-largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, which is the fourth-most populous metropolitan area in the United States, and the most populous in Texas. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, covering nearly 350 square miles into four other counties: Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise.

The city of Fort Worth was established in 1849 as an army outpost on a bluff overlooking the Trinity River. Fort Worth has historically been a center of the Texas Longhorn cattle trade. It still embraces its Western heritage and traditional architecture and design. USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) is the first ship of the United States Navy named after the city. Nearby Dallas has held a population majority as long as records have been kept, yet Fort Worth has become one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States at the beginning of the 21st century, nearly doubling its population since 2000.

look below

Hell's Half Acre was a precinct of Fort Worth, Texas designated as a red-light district beginning in the early to mid 1870s in the Old Wild West. It came to be called the town's "Bloody Third ward" because of the violence and lawlessness in the area.

sign about Hell's Half Acre

Over 14 city blocks (previously known as "Hell's Half Acre" - as per the sign shown above) were demolished to make way for a new facility, The Tarrant County Convention Center that opened in 1968. It is now known as The Fort Worth Convention Center, originally built in 1966. It is an indoor arena that opened on September 30, 1968, and was expanded in 1983, 2002 and 2003.

Below are two photos of the exterior of the Convention Center. The first one was taken by Karen Duquette in 2006. The second photo is from the internet with the proposed upgrades. Under the original plans, phase one of the expanded Fort Worth Convention Center would have been near completion by 2023. But COVID-19 came and Fort Worth’s culture and tourism fund — the source of the project’s funding – took a big hit. Tourism revenue decreased by about $11 million between 2019 and 2020.

The Fort Worth Convention Center 2005 plans for a new The Fort Worth Convention Center

Below: More 2006 photos

downtown Fort Worth, TX Fort Worth, Texas

Below: The reason that Karen and Lee Duquette were in Fort Worth on this date in 2006 was because Lee was attending an annual Electrical Seminar. And Karen enjoyed time with Helen Hodges-Moore, who has remained a friend through all the years. Helen lives in Virginia, and Karen and Lee visit her whenever they can.

Karen Duquette and Helen Hodges-Moore

Below: Lee Duquette and Karen Duquette thought the animal bushes were interesting.

Lee Duquette with an animal bush Karen Duquette with an animal bush
Texas Official Historicl Medalion

Below: Bass Performance Hall was built entirely with private funds. The Hall serves as a premier venue for national touring artists and Broadway productions, as well as a permanent home to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra,Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera, Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the Cliburn.

Bass Performance Hall
Bass Performance Hall Bass Performance Hall

Below: The Reunion Tower in downtown Fort Worth

Karen Duquette

The Reunion Tower in downtown Fort Worth Karen Duquette in Fort Worth TX
Lee Duquette at Phantoms Haunted House Lee Duquette at Phantoms Haunted House

Below: Lee Duquette outside the Cattle Raisers Museum, which is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the vital history and science of the cattle industry.

Cattle Raisers Museum sign Lee Duquette outside the Cattle Raisers Museum

Below: The Fort Worth Stockyards are a National Historic District. The Stockyards were once among the largest livestock markets in the United States and played a vital role in the city's early growth. At the Fort Worth Stockyards, Fort Worth is the only major city that hosts a daily cattle drive. Karen and Lee Duquette really enjoyed the cattle drive that took place on the main street. However Karen has not been able to find those photos.

The Fort Worth Stockyards The Fort Worth Stockyards
cattle in Fort Worth TX cattle
cattle sign Bike rack in Forth Worth

Below: Painted Columns under a bridge in Fort Worth

Painted Columns under a bridge Painted Column under a bridge

Below: Karen Duquette photographed a very unusual car in Fort Worth.

a very unusual car in Fort Worth close-up of a very unusual car in Fort Worth

Below: "Man with Briefcase" located in Burnett Park, downtown Ft. Worth. The sculpture was created in 2002. It is fifty feet tall, twenty-two feet wide, and one foot thick. It weighs 24,000 pounds. Artist: Jonathan Borofski Material: Brushed Aluminum.

Man with Briefcase Man with Briefcase

Below: Statue of Quanah Parker, known as the last great Comanche Chief, a prolific and fierce warrior who led his people into battle. The Comanche's, known as "Lords of the Plains", were regarded as perhaps the most dangerous Indian Tribes in the frontier eras. One of the most compelling stories of the Wild West is the abduction of Cynthia Ann Parker, Quanah's mother, who was kidnapped at age 9 by Comanche's and assimilated into the tribe. At age 34, Cynthia Ann was stolen from the Comanches by Texas Rangers and returned unwillingly, to her former life. Quanah Parker was in the first group of Hall of Fame inductees in 2003.

Statue of Quanah Parker
Fort Worth building Helen Hodges-Moore

Below: Fort Worth has a Hall of fame for the Texas Cowboy and Cowgirl.
"These historical museums honors those men and women who have shown excellence in the business and support of rode0 and the western lifestyle in Texas." - quote from Wikipedia

stge coage in TExas Cowboy Hall of Fame

Below: The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame entry and statue. The Museum was established in 1975. It is dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneering fortitude. The museum is an educational resource with exhibits, a research library, and rare photography collection. It adds Honorees to its Hall of Fame annually.

outside Cowgirl Hall of Fame Cowgirl Hall of Fame statue and horse
Fort Worth mural

Below: Billy Bob's Texas is a famed, huge country music Honky Tonk with a live bull-riding area and dozens of bars. It promotes itself as "World's Largest Honky Tonk," at 100,000 square feet of interior space and nearly 20 acres of parking space. Karen Duquette got kissed by two Cowboys as she entered Billy Bob's. Then Karen and Lee posed for photos on a bucking bull.

Karen Duquette got kissed by two cowboys as she entered Billy Bob's Karen and Lee posed for photos on a bronco bull.

History BookBilly Bob Barnett, a Texas A&M University graduate and professional football player, teamed up with nightclub owner and former car salesman, Spencer Taylor. They decided upon an abandoned 100,000-square-foot department store that was at one time an open-air cattle barn. With some additional investors, Barnett and Taylor renovated the building's interior and exterior and opened the place to the public on April 1, 1981. Billy Bob's closed in January 1988 and reopened in October 1988 under new ownership and management. Holt Hickman, Don Jury, Steve Murrin and Billy Minick formed the new ownership group.

Mostly known for country music, the venue has also hosted acts such as Bob Hope and B.B. King.

In 1983, Merle Haggard, while on stage, offered each person in the crowd of 5,095 a C.C. Waterback (a one-ounce Canadian Club Whiskey with a water chaser) in honor of his song of that name. The drinks totaled 40 gallons and at the time, cost $12,737.50. The stunt earned Haggard a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the purchaser of the biggest round ever.

In addition to the concert stage where the artists perform, Billy Bob’s Texas also has a dance floor, music memorabilia museum, pool hall, bar, restaurant, gift shop, and small dirt arena where professional bull riding is held on the weekends during concert days.

Billy Bob's Texas BBQ sign Billy Bob's Texas

Below: Dance floor at Billy Bob's

dance floor in Billy Bob's Dance floor at Billy Bob's
Billy Bob's TX BBQ inside Billy Bob's
dining area at Billy Bob's dining area t Billy Bob's
Bear game room at Billy Bob's
pool tables game room in Billy Bob's
rodeo area wall decor
Billy Bob's Dodge
guitars on the wall guitars on the wal

Below: The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is a botanical garden located at 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas. The garden was established in 1934 and is the oldest major botanic garden in Texas. It is located in the heart of the cultural district. There are sure to be a lot more to the garden now, then when these photos were taken.

Below is a photo of Karen Duquette's dear friend, Helen Hodges-Moore. They will remain friends forever, and Karen and Lee will visit Helen when they travel in her direction.

Helen Hodges-Moore

Below: Helen Hodges-Moore and Karen Duquette behind the water fountain.

Helen Hodges-Moore Karen Duquette

Below: Side view of the above water fountain.

the water fountain
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden plant elephant
trees in the Botanical Garden Fort Worth
Karen Duquette in Fort Worth Texas pond
Lee Duquette crossing the stone path over water Lee Duquette crossing the stone path over water
small waterfall bird in a tree
pumpkin tree
cactus cactus
cacti
Karen Duquette Karen Duquette

look belowThere are multiple travel options for this very large website
Return to the Flashback pages

OR: -- Continue navigation of this large website via the buttons below.

search for items on this webpage beginning with the letter A search for things on this website beginning with the letter B search for things/places on this website starting with the letter C search for things/places on this website starting with the letter D search for things/places on this website starting with the letter E search for things/places on this website starting with the letter F search for things/places on this website starting with the letter G search for things/places on this website starting with the letter H search for things/places on this website starting with the letter I search for things/places on this website starting with the letter J search for things/places on this website starting with the letter K search for things/places on this website starting with the letter L search for things/places on this website starting with the letter M search for things/places on this website starting with the letter N search for things/places on this website starting with the letter O visit places the two RV Gypsies have been that start with the letter P search for things/places on this website starting with the letter P search for things/places on this website starting with the letter R search for things/places on this website starting with the letter S search for things/places on this website starting with the letter T search for things/places on this website starting with the letter U search for things/places on this website starting with the letter V search for things/places on this website starting with the letter W search for things/places on this website starting with the letter Y search this website for things/places starting with the letter Z such as ziplines find anything starting with the letter Q on this website
photos/history Alaska from the two RV Gypsies
photos/history in Canada from the two RV Gypsies
TOC-Countries and Cruices
Cruises
photos/history of continental USA by the two RV Gypsies
how Karen & Lee Duquette became two RV Gypsies
learn about Brian Lee Duquette
e-mail the two RV Gypsies
Flashback to the past
please sign the guestbook of the two RV Gypsies
go to webpage built by Karen plus other RV pages
helpful hints for RVers
Art, carvings, murals, sculptures
Caampgrounds the two RV Gypsies stayed in
Gardens the two RV Gypsies visited
Lighthouses the two RV Gypsies visited
Museums the two RV gypsies have visited
National Parks the two RV Gypsies visited
Oddities seen by the two RV gypsies
Restaurants the two RV Gypsies have visited
State Parks the two RV gypsies visited
Videos taken by the two RV Gypsies
Waterfalls the two RV gypsies have visited
Wildlifethe two RV gysies have seen