The Nottoway Plantation, a historic antebellum mansion in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, was destroyed by fire on Thursday. According to WWLTV, the fire started in the south wing of the 1859 building and quickly spread, causing the roof to collapse.
Witnesses watched as the historic estate, once featuring 64 rooms and covering 53,000 square feet, was destroyed by fire. Firefighters used water from the Mississippi River and battled the flames for hours, as per the Finger Lakes 1. Only the chimneys were left standing on the second and third floors. Staff evacuated after seeing smoke on the second floor, and when they returned, the room was already in flames.
Nottoway Plantation, a historic and cultural site in Louisiana, also served as a resort and event venue. Its destruction is considered a major loss for local tourism and history. Many people remember it as a popular spot for weddings and gatherings. However, the site also represented a painful past, once operated with the labor of 155 enslaved people, as noted in a report by NOLA.com.
Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle reflected on the loss, stating, “While its early history is undeniably tied to a time of great injustice, over the last several decades it has evolved into a place of reflection, education, and dialogue. Since the 1980s, it has welcomed visitors from around the world who came to appreciate its architecture and confront the legacies of its era.” He told WWLTV, “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. Its absence will be felt deeply by our community, our state, and by the many who found meaning in its preservation.”
