USS KIDD

The USS KIDD is the kind of museum ship that lets you touch the history. Commissioned in 1943, this Fletcher-class destroyer earned the nickname Pirate of the Pacific for her service in the war against Japan, and she was named for Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd, who died on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. In April 1945, a kamikaze aircraft struck her off Okinawa, killing 38 crewmen and wounding many more, yet the ship stayed in the fight and returned for later service, including the Korean War. Today she sits in a dry berth on the Mississippi riverfront in downtown Baton Rouge, restored to her WWII appearance, and she is one of the best-preserved destroyers of her class anywhere. A visit follows a route through the ship. You step across the gangway onto the main deck, walk beneath the 5-inch gun mounts and torpedo tubes, duck through hatches into the mess, crew berthing, galley and engineering spaces, and climb up to the bridge. Interpretive signs explain what each space did, and the scale of the machinery makes clear how many men lived and fought in a cramped steel hull.

Beside the ship, the Louisiana Veterans Memorial Museum and Nautical Center extends the story with exhibits on the state's servicemen and women, ship models and artifacts from conflicts across the twentieth century. A walk along the grounds also takes you past memorials and a view of the river with the Mississippi's barges and tugs sliding past, which gives context to the Navy's inland shipbuilding history.

The ship is an active educational site, and it runs programs for school groups and, in some seasons, overnight stays where visitors sleep in the crew's quarters. Check the current schedule if that appeals. Visitors should expect steep ladders, narrow passageways and high thresholds, so wear closed shoes and be prepared to climb. Some areas are not accessible for people with mobility limits, though the museum and parts of the deck are easier. Ticketing is straightforward and usually handled at the entry; opening days and hours vary by season, so verify before driving over.

For families with children interested in ships, this is a highlight. For history fans, it is a hands-on lesson in World War II naval life that connects well with the Capitol and the downtown museums, since the ship is a short walk from the river end of Government Street. Combine it with a sunset stroll on the levee path, and you have a satisfying half day. Photographers favor the view from across the river and the golden-hour angle from the levee, when the gray hull catches warm light.

Some practical details will help you plan. Allow extra time if you want to read the signs in each compartment, because the ship rewards curiosity: the radar and fire control spaces, the engine room with its pipes and gauges, and the crew's sleeping racks stacked tightly against the hull show how much was packed into a single vessel. The museum next door lets you cool down between climbs. Ships of this age have uneven decks, steep ladders and low overheads, so tall visitors should watch their heads and everyone should hold the rails.

Children usually enjoy the gun mounts and bridge, but young toddlers may need to be carried. Veterans and military families often find the visit moving, and staff and volunteers are generally glad to answer questions. If you are a photographer, bring a wide lens for the narrow compartments and a zoom for the exterior details.