The historic Nottoway Plantation, the largest Antebellum mansion in the South, was destroyed by a fire on May 15 in White Castle, Louisiana.
Built in 1859 by enslaved people, the 64-room mansion was a prominent landmark along the Mississippi River.
The fire began in a bedroom, was briefly contained, then reignited and burned through the night.
Though once considered for restoration, owners are now unsure due to the extent of the damage.
The cause is still under investigation, Yahoo News has reported.
The site, which had evolved into a resort and museum, was a place of both architectural admiration and reflection on its ties to slavery.
Written by B.C. Begley
B.C. Begley 