A Southern Landmark Lost: Nottoway Plantation Destroyed By Flames
A stately symbol of Southern history is lost in Louisiana
Past Lane Plus is an extension of Past Lane Travels, a history/travel blog. Past Lane Plus features extra photos of historical sites that didn’t make it into the regular posts.
This post was first published in 2023. Nottoway Plantation was destroyed by fire on May 15, 2025.
One of the most memorable Southern Plantations I’ve ever visited is Nottoway in White Castle, LA.
Just look at these pictures and you’ll understand why!
John Hampden Randolph first purchased the land for his future castle in 1855 because he wanted a more “fitting home” to honor his position and stature.
The house faced the Mississippi River, which was a major transportation waterway of the time.
The Inside Is Just As Spectacular
The outside of Nottoway Plantation was amazing, but the inside was just as spectacular.
The main house consisted of 64 rooms spread throughout its 53,000 square feet. It has six interior staircases, three modern bathrooms, 22 massive square columns, 165 doors and 200 windows.
Sound big?
To put it in context, the house contained more than an acre of floor space spread out over three floors. It originally sat on 400 acres of highland and 620 acres of swamp.
The White Ballroom
The semi-circular White Ballroom contained Corinthian columns and hand-cast archways.
Randolph had it painted completely white to show off the natural beauty of his seven daughters. Six of his daughters were married in the room.
Two fireplaces with hand-carved rococo white marble mantles graced each side of the ballroom.
An original mirror still hung on the wall, once used by women to make sure their hoops weren’t showing beneath their skirts.
If you love Southern Plantations, check out these tours in Louisiana.
Beautiful By Moonlight…
Amazingly, it was a full moon when I visited Nottoway, so I wandered around the grounds by moonlight.
I stayed in a beautiful cottage on the property, but there were also rooms available in the mansion house. Needless to say, it was a beloved wedding venue.
… And At Sunrise
I also made sure to see how the plantation looked at sunrise. I walked down to the levee and took this picture with my back to the Mississippi River.
And The Trees…
Of course, I have to show photos of the trees!
There are 16 majestic oak trees still standing at Nottoway, the oldest estimated at 163 years—the same age as the house.
In 2015, 11 of the tree were registered with the Live Oak Society of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation.
I hope you enjoyed this look at Nottoway Plantation! You can read the full story on Past Lane Travels.
The current owner of Nottoway hopes to rebuild after the devastating fire.
History and Travel
If you’re interested in visiting historic sites throughout the world, not just the United States, watch this video.
Answer to Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Congratulations to those who chose the Battle of Saratoga as the turning point of the Revolutionary War. That was a hard question and there are arguments that can be made for others.
☛ This Week’s Trivia Question: Give it a try!
PLAN YOUR NEXT TRIP WITH MY FAVORITE RESOURCES:
— Best accommodation site: Booking.com
— Book day tours here: Viator.com
— Rent a car: DiscoverCars.com
See you next week!
I love the photos and information.