U.S.S. Kidd and Nautical Center, Baton Rouge

U.S.S. Kidd and Nautical Center, Baton Rouge (must see)

The USS Kidd is a Fletcher-class destroyer used in World War II, most notably during the Battle of Okinawa. Now, it serves as a museum ship boarded by visitors. It is part of the Nautical Center, which includes the Naval Veterans Memorial and the Veterans Museum.

The USS Kidd rests on dry-dock in the Mississippi River. The ship has been preserved to reflect its appearance and function from August 1945. It is the only Fletcher-class museum ship that has stayed true to its World War II form. The destroyer was named a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

Visitors to the museum will see aircraft and equipment used during World War II. They can hear stories from veterans while they learn from the past. As the exhibits are often changing, patrons may have a different experience each time they visit.

One of the permanent exhibits is a walkthrough exhibit of the gun deck of Old Ironsides. One of the most recent additions to the museum is an exhibition of marine graffiti from the 1960s.

Along with exhibits, the ship, and Nautical Center have a regular celebration and remembrance ceremonies. Each April 11th, a remembrance ceremony honors the date that a kamikaze pilot tore through the destroyer's hull, killing 38 crew members and injuring another 55.

The USS Kidd and Nautical Center are open daily from 9 AM to 3:30 PM. They are closed on some national holidays and for private events. Those who want to ensure a visit to the USS Kidd should contact the Nautical Center in advance to inquire about any unlisted closures.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Baton Rouge. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

U.S.S. Kidd and Nautical Center on Map

Sight Name: U.S.S. Kidd and Nautical Center
Sight Location: Baton Rouge, USA (See walking tours in Baton Rouge)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Create Your Own Walk in Baton Rouge

Create Your Own Walk in Baton Rouge

Creating your own self-guided walk in Baton Rouge is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Baton Rouge Introduction Walking Tour

Baton Rouge Introduction Walking Tour

Baton Rouge is the capital of the state of Louisiana. The area that is now Baton Rouge was initially settled by the Houma and Bayougoula Indian Tribes. These two indigenous tribes used a giant cypress pole painted in red to mark the boundary between the tribal lands. Early French settlers dubbed that cypress pole "Le Baton Rouge" or Red Stick.

European settlement of Baton Rouge began...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Louisiana State University Walking Tour

Louisiana State University Walking Tour

Louisiana State University is the flagship university of the LSU system. It was originally founded in Pineville in 1860 as a seminary and military academy. The present campus in Baton Rouge was established in 1926.

The LSU campus is noted for its architecture and historical center. The campus has 250 buildings designed in the Italian Renaissance style. Among these are the Memorial Tower, Hill...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles