Fire decimates Nottoway Plantation in Louisiana: What we know so far
Crews continued to douse water onto Louisiana's Nottoway Plantation on May 16, local media reported, a day after a devastating fire broke out at the mansion.
Photos published by local outlet WVUE showed the home, which dates back to the antebellum South and was once home to slaves, had virtually been ruined by the fire that sparked in Iberville Parish on May 15.
The blaze began sometime around 2 p.m. local time and no guests were present at the time, according to the New Orleans Advocate and WBRZ.
In a Facebook post on May 15, Chris Daigle, president of Iberville Parish's government, said there were no injuries reported in the fire.
"Today, Iberville Parish mourns the loss of one of its most iconic landmarks," Daigle wrote, adding that the site dates back to 1859 and is the largest remaining antebellum mansion in the South. The estate had been used as a museum and wedding venue prior to the fire.
"The loss of Nottoway is not just a loss for Iberville Parish, but for the entire state of Louisiana," Daigle said. "It was a cornerstone of our tourism economy and a site of national significance."
USA TODAY has reached out to the Iberville Parish Fire & Emergency Services Department for comment.
Nottoway Plantation sits on a 31-acre property in White Castle, a town in Iberville Parish.
The house was built in 1859 and owned by prominent Louisiana planter John Hampden Randolph, according to Louisiana State University. The property housed Randolph's family as well as his slaves.
Prior to the blaze, the property was used as a museum and wedding venue.
In addition to the property's main mansion, there are several ballrooms, cottages, a tennis court and other amenities on site.
"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 wrote on Facebook.
Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nottoway Plantation fire: What we know about Louisiana mansion blaze
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