Karen and Lee Duquette's FLASHBACK in Fort Worth, Texas

July 20 - 22, 2006

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.

Fort 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.

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.

Below: More 2006 photos

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.

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

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.

Below: The Reunion Tower in downtown Fort Worth

Karen Duquette

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

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.

Below: Painted Columns under a bridge in Fort Worth

Below: Karen Duquette photographed 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Below: Dance floor at Billy Bob's

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.

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

Below: Side view of the above water fountain.