For many years, Nottoway Plantation was a familiar stop for travelers cruising the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Memphis. The enormous white mansion stood just beyond the Mississippi River levee in White Castle, Louisiana, and became one of the most recognizable antebellum plantation homes in the South.

That changed in May 2025, when a devastating fire destroyed the historic mansion. While travelers can no longer tour Nottoway as they once did, its story remains an important part of the history along the Mississippi River.

What Was Nottoway Plantation?

Wealthy sugar planter John Hampden Randolph commissioned New Orleans architect Henry Howard to design Nottoway Plantation for his family. Construction crews completed the mansion in 1859.

The house contained 64 rooms and covered approximately 53,000 square feet. Its size and elaborate architecture made it one of the most recognizable plantation homes along the Mississippi River.

The wealth that created Nottoway was built on sugar production and the labor of enslaved people. By 1860, Randolph owned 155 enslaved people who lived and worked on the plantation.

Inside the Nottoway Mansion

Nottoway was known for its size and elaborate interior. Seven staircases connected its 64 rooms, while Corinthian columns, carved marble mantels and other decorative details reflected the grandeur of the house.

Perhaps its best-known room was the White Ballroom. Almost entirely white, including the walls, furnishings and elaborate plasterwork, the ballroom became one of the most recognizable rooms in the mansion.

The Grounds at Nottoway

Nottoway sat close to the Mississippi River, surrounded by mature oak, magnolia and pecan trees. Some of the oak trees on the property were more than 200 years old.

Over the years, the property also included cottages, a carriage house and other buildings.

North of the mansion was a cemetery for members of the Randolph family. Their original burial site was St. Mary’s Cemetery. After years of deterioration and vandalism there, the family arranged to move their remains to Nottoway.

What Happened to Nottoway Plantation?

On May 15, 2025, a fire broke out at Nottoway and destroyed the historic mansion. Despite their efforts, firefighters could not save the 166-year-old structure.

The Louisiana State Fire Marshal investigated the fire and determined that it began in an electrical panel in an area used for administrative offices. Investigators determined that the fire was accidental..

The loss was particularly significant because Nottoway had survived for more than a century and a half and had become a familiar landmark along this stretch of the Mississippi River.

What Is the Future of Nottoway?

The fire was not the end of Nottoway’s story. In February 2026, work began to rebuild the mansion, starting with cleanup and demolition of what remained after the fire.

The owners plan to reconstruct the house to closely resemble the original mansion. Plans also include a memorial honoring the enslaved people who once lived and worked at Nottoway.

Rebuilding a property of this size will take time, so travelers should check the current status of Nottoway before making plans to visit.

Nottoway has long been part of the story of the Lower Mississippi River. Although the original mansion is gone, its history remains part of the larger story of the people and places that shaped this region. For travelers interested in exploring more of the Mississippi and America’s other waterways, a U.S. river cruise offers a very different way to experience the country’s history, culture and landscapes.

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