USS KIDD Veterans Museum

09/02/2026

UPDATE: Construction on River Road is taking longer than anticipated. Therefore, the museum will be closed Thursday as well. We will resume normal business hours on Friday, September 04.

09/02/2026

Due to construction on River Road, the museum will be closed tomorrow. We will resume normal business hours on Thursday, September 3rd.

08/28/2026

- 08/28/2026 - The missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints were at the museum today after a few weeks at the KIDD Cave to help clean up around the museum building. After wiping down our pirate exhibit, the missionaries helped dust off the museum's Fletcher-class engineering model. This 1942 model shows KIDD's machinery spaces, specifically her firerooms and engine rooms, and all the machinery therein. This model would have been used as a teaching tool to help educate sailors striking for an engineering rating such as fireman, watertender, machinist mate, or electrician's mate. This model is currently in storage but the museum hopes to have it on display for the public in the future.

A big thanks to all the missionaries for their service!

If you'd like to volunteer with the USS KIDD Veterans Museum you can send an inquiry to [email protected] for more information.

There's still a need for funding to finish restoration of equipment not being restored by the shipyard, and to keep the lights on back home at the museum. Let's make KIDD better than the bare minimum!

Click here to donate to the USS KIDD: https://www.usskidd.com/product/donations/

The USS KIDD Veterans Museum is a non-funded state agency that receives no regular state or federal funding. We appreciate your support!

08/27/2026

- Two years ago (08/27/2024) - Two weeks into drydocking at Thoma-SeaShipyard, the whaleboats were being loaded up for transport to Dulac Shipyard for restoration. The dumbwaiter was being removed in the Steward's Berthing backfitting. The fantail deck replacement was underway. The first 40mm foundation had been fabricated and welded into place on the 01 Level. The hull from main deck to keel was still being blasted clean. Fabrication of supply and exhaust louvers had begun.

USS KIDD is currently away from Baton Rouge, having been in drydock for hull work. She will return in Spring 2027 with high river levels. There's still a need for funding to finish restoration of equipment not being restored by the shipyard, and to keep the lights on back home at the museum. Let's make KIDD better than the bare minimum! Click here to donate to the USS KIDD: https://www.usskidd.com/product/donations/

The USS KIDD Veterans Museum is a non-funded state agency that receives no regular state or federal funding. We appreciate your support!

For USS KIDD merch: https://www.usskidd.com/museum-store/

Check out our other social media: https://linktr.ee/usskidd661

08/26/2026

We're happy to celebrate National Women's Equality Day by acknowledging women's contributions in the Navy. Stop by our latest museum exhibit to see their stories.

08/21/2026

It is our sad duty to report the passing of former crew member Elton Louis "Pap" LeBeau, Sr., on August 08, 2026, at the age of 93. He served aboard USS KIDD (DD-661) from September 1954 to August 1955 where he achieved the rating of Boatswain's Mate 3rd class. During his time aboard, he would have been present for WESTPAC cruises, visiting ports in allied nations all along the Pacific Rim as the ship and her destroyer division provided a show of force and a deterrent to armed aggression by communist forces.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the LeBeau family during this time of loss.

View Elton "Pap" LeBeau's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/18/2026

In episode 8 of our series Talking Ship, you're in for a wild ride! We'll be wrangling the surprising origin of the phrase "flogging a dead horse".

08/17/2026

Lanehart Inc. (), under the direction of LEMOINE (), has been making steady progress in the painting of the concrete and steel walkway and entry gates between the levee and the ship's gangway. Pressure washing and cleaning removed dirt, grime, and flaking paint. Sanding and feathering followed. A test section was completed last Wednesday for evaluation. Once approved, the crew moved forward with priming and painting the gates, handrails, and safety rails. Final touch-ups are occurring today. This week will see the crew shift to painting the concrete curbs before moving down to tackle the walkway's support structure and undercarriage.

Our thanks to LEMOINE--and to Pittsburgh Paints () who donated the paint--for their generosity in funding the labor and materials needed for this facilities facelift and helping the USS KIDD Veterans Museum put its best foot forward.

What to join in the efforts? Contact [email protected] to see how you can help via or or .

There's still a need for funding to finish restoration of equipment not being restored by the shipyard, and to keep the lights on back home at the museum. Let's make KIDD better than the bare minimum!

Click here to donate to the USS KIDD: https://www.usskidd.com/product/donations/

The USS KIDD Veterans Museum is a non-funded state agency that receives no regular state or federal funding. We appreciate your support!

Jacob Feske

08/14/2026

INCOMING!!! -- During WWII German U-boats operated in the Gulf of Mexico and along the east coast of the United States. A persistent urban myth involves the U-boats traveling up the Mississippi River! Was this even possible? If so, how far did they make it? Tim NesSmith and Greg Williams join James from All American Travels to discuss! Join us FRIDAY, August 14, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Central Time!

🔗 LINK in the 1st COMMENT. 🔗

USS KIDD is currently away from Baton Rouge, having been in drydock for hull work. She will return in Spring 2027 with high river levels. There's still a need for funding to finish restoration of equipment not being restored by the shipyard, and to keep the lights on back home at the museum. Let's make KIDD better than the bare minimum! Click here to donate to the USS KIDD: https://www.usskidd.com/product/donations/

The USS KIDD Veterans Museum is a non-funded state agency that receives no regular state or federal funding. We appreciate your support!

For USS KIDD merch: https://www.usskidd.com/museum-store/

Check out our other social media: https://linktr.ee/usskidd661

08/12/2026

We're excited to announce that COBI Bricks
has released their model of USS KIDD (DD-661)! In this video, our Executive Director Parks Stephenson gives some of his building tips. The COBI model is available to purchase from our giftshop and on COBI's website.

We're excited to announce that ⁨.bricks⁩ has released their...