USS Kidd, Military museum ship on Mississippi River in Downtown Baton Rouge, United States.
The USS Kidd is a Fletcher-class destroyer on the Mississippi in Baton Rouge that now serves as a floating museum. The warship extends across several decks with guns, torpedo tubes, and original navigation equipment that give visitors insight into life aboard.
The ship was built in 1943 in New Jersey and named after Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, who fell at Pearl Harbor. It participated in combat operations in the Pacific during the Second World War and was later modernized for service in Vietnam.
Local residents often refer to the ship simply as "the Kidd" and it reminds them of Louisiana naval service across different conflicts. Families frequently visit the warship along with the adjacent Memorial Plaza, which today serves as a place of remembrance.
The museum is open daily and offers self-guided tours through the narrow passageways and steep ladders of the ship. Comfortable closed-toe shoes are recommended as some areas have uneven surfaces and low overhead clearances.
The destroyer still carries battle damage from a kamikaze attack in 1945, which was intentionally preserved during restoration. The radar room displays functioning equipment that visitors can operate under guidance.
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