Baton Rouge in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

Congressman W. Henson Moore

Father Of The Kidd

Photographed by Cajun Scrambler, March 14, 2026

1. Congressman W. Henson Moore Marker

Inscription.

Congressman W. Henson Moore. Father Of The Kidd. , He conceived the idea of bringing a naval warship to Baton Rouge in 1973. He contacted the U.S. Navy on a regular basis for four years concerning the availability of a suitable ship which finally resulted with the availability of a distinguished ship, the U.S.S. Kidd, DD661 which had just been declared as surplus. To be used for gunnery practice, and sunk in the Atlantic., Moore immediately drove to the Philadelphia navy yard to visit the ship on April 11, 1979. He was asked to sign her ship's log and it was then noticed that the day of his visit was the same day as her infamous attack by a Kamikaze in the Pacific in World War II. The Navy pointed out her first crew saved her then, but that now it was up to him to assemble a third crew to save her again., That he did as he returned to Baton Rouge to recruit a crew and begin the project. He asked Mayor WW Woody Dumas for land as the city owned the property where the museum and exhibit now stands and asked Governor Edwin W. Edwards to support legislation creating a state commission to own and operate the memorial, which he did and appointed Moore a member of that first commission. He asked Governor Dave Treen for the funds to build the berthing facility for the ship which he accomplished., He and the Secretary of the Navy signed the official papers transferring the ship to the commission in Washington on April 26, 1982. On May 22, 1982 the Kidd sailed to Baton Rouge with Moore and her first captain on board. During the welcoming ceremony, the commission presented Moore an award naming him the father of the Kidd., Moore's work was not finished as he conceived the idea of the memorial plaza listing all Louisianians who had given their lives in all of our nation's wars. He and his staff worked for several years to develop the list of all those heroes whose names appear in the plaza today. He procured a number of exhibits in the museum including a Curtis P-40 Warhawk world war two fighter, the bow bunting from the keel laying of the Submarine Baton Rouge, the Fletcher Class Destroyer shipbuilders' model, and others he raised and gave funds and established an endowment to ensure that the Kidd has sufficient funds for her maintenance.

He conceived the idea of bringing a naval warship to Baton Rouge in 1973. He contacted the U.S. Navy on a regular basis for four years concerning the availability of a suitable ship which finally resulted with the availability of a distinguished ship, the U.S.S. Kidd, DD661 which had just been declared as surplus. To be used for gunnery practice, and sunk in the Atlantic.

Moore immediately drove to the Philadelphia navy yard to visit the ship on April 11, 1979. He was asked to sign her ship's log and it was then noticed that the day of his visit was the same day as her infamous attack by a Kamikaze in the Pacific in World War II. The Navy pointed out her first crew saved her then, but that now it was up to him to assemble a third crew to save her again.

That he did as he returned to Baton Rouge to recruit a crew and begin the project. He asked Mayor WW Woody Dumas for land as the city owned the property where the museum and exhibit now stands and asked Governor Edwin W. Edwards to support legislation creating a state commission to own and operate the memorial, which he did and appointed Moore a member of that first

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commission. He asked Governor Dave Treen for the funds to build the berthing facility for the ship which he accomplished.

He and the Secretary of the Navy signed the official papers transferring the ship to the commission in Washington on April 26, 1982. On May 22, 1982 the Kidd sailed to Baton Rouge with Moore and her first captain on board. During the welcoming ceremony, the commission presented Moore an award naming him the father of the Kidd.

Moore's work was not finished as he conceived the idea of the memorial plaza listing all Louisianians who had given their lives in all of our nation's wars. He and his staff worked for several years to develop the list of all those heroes whose names appear in the plaza today. He procured a number of exhibits in the museum including a Curtis P-40 Warhawk WWII fighter, the bow bunting from the keel laying of the Submarine Baton Rouge, the Fletcher Class Destroyer shipbuilders' model, and others he raised and gave funds and established an endowment to ensure that the Kidd has sufficient funds for her maintenance.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work

Photographed by Cajun Scrambler, March 14, 2026

2. Congressman W. Henson Moore Marker

• Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is April 11, 1979.

Location. 30° 26.627′ N, 91° 11.418′ W. Marker is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in East Baton Rouge Parish. It is on South River Road near Government Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 305 S River Rd, Baton Rouge LA 70802, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Louisiana’s Florida Parishes.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: H. Maury Drummond (here, next to this marker); Korean War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); John Archer Lejeune (a few steps

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from this marker); USCGC White Alder (a few steps from this marker); Baton Rouge Film Trail (a few steps from this marker); United States Coast Guard Memorial Plaza (a few steps from this marker); Louisiana Vietnam War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); A-7E Corsair II (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baton Rouge.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2026, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 29, 2026, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana.