Leisure Tours

L1 Fort Worth Now and Then
Wednesday, October 19
9:00 am-3:00 pm
Fee: $65

(Box lunch and admissions to all three venues are included with the fee)

Take a glimpse into the western ranch scene and visit one of Fort Worth's newest attractions, the Bureau of Engraving and Printings' Western Currency Facility.., where you can actually see billions of dollars being printed as you walk the quarter-mile long elevated walkway!

The Bureau of Engraving and Printings' Western Currency Facility , an adjunct to the more famous currency facility located in Washington, DC, is dedicated to the design, engraving, and printing of all United States paper currency, postage stamps, White House invitations, Treasury obligations, and other United States securities. Despite the fact that new printing, production, and examining technologies have been implemented to keep pace with security needs, the initial engraving process has not changed significantly since the Bureau was founded in 1877. Explore exhibits on the history of our paper currency, details on the production process, and demonstrations of the machinery and skills mandatory for this production.

Next on your stop is the Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame , the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring and documenting the lives of the women who have distinguished themselves while exemplifying the pioneer spirit of the American West. Listen to the stories and voices of women (both historic and contemporary) whose trailblazing efforts helped shape the history and culture of the American West.

Your last stop of the day examines the development of the cattle and ranching industry in Texas and the valuable impact that industry has had on United States history. At the Cattle Raisers Museum , explore the interactive exhibits, theatre presentations, and artifacts, all designed to separate folklore from reality. Expand your Texas vocabulary, learn the distinction between a "rustler" and a "longhorn," and see everything from boots to branding irons. This is where the real West begins, where Fort Worth's history began and where it is today.

(Fee includes admission to museum; lunch will be on your own)

Each year over two million visitors come to The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas. Established in February 1989, this site rises from the nation-altering tragedy of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963. The museum and surrounding area, which are designated as a National Historic Landmark District, hold testament to the life, times, death, and legacy of John F. Kennedy .

The museum houses a permanent historical exhibition focusing on the impact his death had on our nation and the world. The subject is documented and illustrated through nearly 400 photographs, 45 minutes of documentary films, artifacts, graphs, charts, and other related interpretive materials. Two evidentiary areas associated with the President's alleged assassin are preserved, including the alleged sniper's perch. You can also explore Dealey Plaza and visit the Grassy Knoll, the Reflecting Pool, and the JFK Memorial Plaza, all areas that have become infamous in 20th century history.

Adjacent to Dealey Plaza is Dallas West End, a trendy shopping and restaurant area that was once an old warehouse district, now converted into a magnet for locals and tourists. The balance of the tour will include a self-guided walking tour of the West End.

Be sure to check out the West End Market Place, located in a former cracker and candy factory. Here among the four levels of shops and galleries, you will have the opportunity to peruse western wear, antiques, jewelry, and Texas-themed merchandise. This area also hosts a food court and an 18-hole miniature golf course on the upper level, in case you have some extra energy after the museum and walking tour!

(Buffet lunch and admission to gardens and mansion are all included in fee)

Do you feel the need to get out into the countryside and experience a slower pace of life? Visit Granbury, Texas (www.granburytx.com), a turn-of-the-century Victorian town that was the first Texas town listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A trip to Granbury is like taking a walk back in history. Here you can taste and feel that "country spirit" as you meander through more than 50 antique, art, and gift galleries, parlors, and shops.

You'll lunch at the Nut House Restaurant, where you can sample from a delicious hot home-cooked style buffet lunch. Be sure to save room for some freshly baked buttermilk pie!

Before heading home, the group will visit the Chandor Gardens , located in the North Central Texas town of Weatherford, the Cutting Horse Capital of the World and the Peach Capital of Texas. The Chandor Gardens and Mansion, newly renovated in 2002, were home to the famous English-born portrait painter, Douglas Chandor, who in the 1930s married a local Texan and decided to transform this semi-arid land into world-class gardens filled with a spectacular array of color, creativity, and beauty. Thanks to his dedication and initial planning, you can see today how the four-acre gardens and mansion have been restored to the life they had over 70 years ago. Each of the gardens is planted to exude a distinctive character, and have been described as having the "style and ambiance of a Chinese garden as well as subtle hints of English accents." Visitors to the garden are treated to pristine sounds and sights including fountains, grottos, and even a waterfall.

You will have ample time to wander through the gardens and mansion at your leisure and absorb the countryside before heading back to Fort Worth.

This leisure tour will take place simultaneously with the Technical Field Workshops. This is not a Technical Field Workshop and no credit will be offered.

The tour will travel 4 hours each way to Austin and visit one of the most unique spots in all of Texas, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center , which is dedicated to protecting and preserving North America's native plants and natural landscapes.

Founded in 1982 by former first lady Lady Bird Johnson, wife of the 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson, the National Wildflower Research Center is the first milestone on a long list of accomplishments protecting and preserving the environment. During her husband's rein, Mrs. Johnson was significant in making America more beautiful by restoring and protecting our natural habitats. She made headlines by planting bulbs and trees on roadsides and parkways, and called attention to the growing crisis created by habitat and species loss. In 1965, the Highway Beautification Act (known as "Lady Bird's Bill") was passed.

It was inevitable that in 1982 the Wildlife Research Center be renamed in her honor, and today it remains dedicated to her mission of educating people about the environmental necessity, economic value, and the natural beauty of native plants. The Center has grown through the years and today occupies 279 acres and displays over 500 native species.

As you visit the center you will be impressed with the quiet and peacefulness, for this is indeed a place to connect to the land and learn to appreciate its beauty. Even if you are not a dedicated gardener, you can appreciate all the native plants and their connection to Central Texas' ecology. "Ugliness is so grim," Lady Bird Johnson once said. "A little beauty can help create harmony which will lessen tensions."

Don't overlook the shopping opportunity at the Center's gift shop, Wild Ideas, which sells gifts, books, apparel, wildflower seeds, toys, and more, all which celebrate the beauty of wildflowers and other native flora and fauna. Purchases from Wild Ideas benefit the research and educational programs at the Wildflower Center.