Fire at the Nottoway Plantation and the History of Plantation Tourism

On May 15th, 2025, flames tore through the largest surviving antebellum mansion in the South—Nottoway Plantation in White Castle, Louisiana. Within hours, the storied structure was reduced to a charred skeleton. But as officials made statements mourning the loss and news channels skirted larger issues, much of the public saw something different: the fire was a symbol of racial reckoning. In this special episode of Southern Gothic, we examine how Southern plantations like Nottoway went from sites of forced labor to luxurious resorts and wedding venues. From the Lost Cause myth and the rise of heritage tourism to the backlash against plantation weddings and the emergence of museums like Whitney Plantation, which aim to tell the real story of slavery-- join us as we explore the history of plantation tourism. Want to Listen to Southern Gothic Ad-Free? ⁠⁠Patreon: Ad-Free Episodes, Premium Releases, Bonus Content & More⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Southern Gothic Premium on Spotify⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Southern Gothic Premium on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Into History: History Without Interruption⁠⁠ Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Website:⁠⁠ SouthernGothicMedia.com⁠⁠ Merch Store:⁠⁠ https://www.southerngothicmedia.com/merch⁠⁠ Pinterest:⁠⁠ @SouthernGothicMedia⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠ @SouthernGothicMedia⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠ @SouthernGothicMedia⁠⁠ X:⁠⁠ @SoGoPodcast⁠⁠ Advertise on this podcast: ⁠⁠press@southerngothicmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices