The South’s largest remaining pre-Civil War plantation mansion, Nottoway Plantation in White Castle, Louisiana, burned to the ground Thursday — and the response on social media revealed a stark cultural divide. While local officials and historians mourned the loss of a vital piece of American history, left-wing activists online openly celebrated the destruction.
Built in 1859, the 165-room mansion stood as a testament to Southern history and architecture. It later operated as a museum and resort, contributing significantly to the rural Iberville Parish economy. At the height of its operation, the plantation was worked by over 150 enslaved people — a fact often weaponized by critics to call for its erasure rather than its preservation.
Some commentators on X (formerly Twitter) posted footage of the fire and cheered it on. “It’s about time,” one wrote, calling the destruction “justice” for the mansion’s ties to slavery. Meanwhile, local leaders took a different view. Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle said, “It stood as both a cautionary monument and a testament to the importance of preserving history — even the painful parts — so that future generations can learn and grow from it.”
Dan Dyess, the current owner, expressed heartbreak over the loss. “We’re devastated,” he said. “We put a lot of time, effort, and money to developing this property.” Dyess has not ruled out rebuilding the site.
Jessica Tilson, a Baton Rouge-based researcher, admitted the structure represented both trauma and connection for descendants of enslaved people, calling it part of “their blood, sweat, and tears.”
As the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the polarized reaction underscores a growing movement to erase complex American history rather than preserve and learn from it.
