Nottoway Plantation, Which Once Enslaved Over 100 Black People, Burns to the Ground in Louisiana Fire [Video]

A blaze has destroyed one of the most well-known plantations in the nation, which once enslaved over 100 people.

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Nottoway Plantation in White Castle, Louisiana, the largest Antebellum mansion in the South, dating back to 1859, has been destroyed by a fire. The blaze broke out around 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 15th. It was first ignited in the south wing, where employees saw smoke after entering a second-floor museum room. Officials believe it began in a bedroom. Though the blaze was initially extinguished within two hours, it flared up again later that evening. Crews remained on site overnight to tackle hot spots. Up to 40 firefighters from several parishes were involved in battling the flames.

The plantation, which sits on 31 acres along River Road between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, was known for its white columns, grand balconies, and 162-year-old oak trees. Built by slaves, it once belonged to sugar planter John Hampden Randolph, who owned 155 enslaved Black people by 1860. In the decades that followed, the plantation was transformed into a resort and wedding venue, something that greatly offended African-Americans. Former slave quarters on the land have been transformed into guest suites, another highly offensive fact about Nottoway.

After news of the fire spread online, countless social media users rejoiced, having long slammed the property owners for minimizing the role that the massive property played in the Southern slave trade. Still, officials are mourning the loss of the grim landmark.

“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,” said Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle. “As we process this tragedy, let us recommit ourselves to protecting and honoring our shared history.”