Fire burns Louisiana’s historic Nottoway Plantation to the ground
Historic Nottoway Plantation, the largest antebellum mansion in the U.S., tragically burned to the ground this week after a devastating fire broke out on Thursday. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries or deaths connected to the fire.
Fire crews tirelessly worked to extinguish the flames, with water being poured onto the rubble for as long as 18 hours after the fire started, according to Fox 8. As of Saturday, the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
“Some staff members stated they had gone into the museum and there was smoke. When they returned, the whole room was in flames,” Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle told Fox 8, describing the heartbreaking scene as a “total loss.”
Daigle expressed his sorrow on the Iberville Parish Government’s Facebook page, stating that “The loss of Nottoway is not just a loss for Iberville Parish, but for the entire state of Louisiana. It was a cornerstone of our tourism economy and a site of national significance.”
The 64-room mansion, built by John Hampden Randolph in the late 1850s, was a grand architectural marvel. Sitting on over 53,000 square feet, the mansion boasted 365 doors and windows, along with 22 white columns, overlooking the majestic Mississippi River.
Randolph, who arrived in Louisiana in 1841, initially planted cotton but later shifted to sugar cane. The mansion was named “Nottoway” after the county in Virginia where his ancestors lived, as per the LSU Scholarly Repository. Records from the U.S. Department of the Interior show that Randolph owned 155 slaves and 6,200 acres of land by 1860.
In addition to the opulent mansion, the property featured several trees over 100 years old, some exceeding 120 years, according to Nottoway Plantation’s website.
In recent years, the mansion served as a museum, resort, and sought-after wedding venue, set on 31 acres with 40 overnight rooms, a bar, a restaurant, event space, a pool, tennis courts, and more.
“While its early history is undeniably tied to a time of great injustice, over the last several decades it evolved into a place of reflection, education, and dialogue,” Daigle reflected in his Facebook post. “Since the 1980s, it has welcomed visitors from around the world who came to appreciate its architecture and confront the legacies of its era. It stood as both a cautionary monument and a testament to the importance of preserving history — even the painful parts — so that future generations can learn and grow from it.”
The loss of Nottoway Plantation is truly a devastating blow to the cultural and historical landscape of Louisiana. The memories and stories that once thrived within its walls will forever be cherished, as we mourn the loss of this iconic landmark.
