Nottoway Plantation

If there is one thing I love to do in this part of Louisiana, it is tour the beautiful homes they have here. Thanksgiving weekend Darryl and I visited the beautiful 

Nottoway Plantation in White Castle, Louisiana.

Completed in 1859 this plantation's 53,000 square feet makes it the largest remaining antebellum mansion in the South.

It was built on the Mississippi River by sugarcane magnate John Hampden Randolph for his wife and their 11 children. With it's 200 yr. old oak trees and gardens the exterior is peaceful and beautiful and everything you would think a plantation manse would be.

The craftsman ship on the inside was stunning. One of the few plantations that have been in use constantly since it was built. It was saved from the ravages of the Civil War when John left for Texas with all but a few of their slaves and his wife stayed home with the remaining 4 children. The Yankees encamped in their yard so she pledged loyalty to the Union so when the officers took over the house, they allowed her and the children to stay. 

The commanding officer had his men carry most of the valuable furniture and belongings up to the attic. She and her house slaves had already hidden much of the silver and smaller things of value.

This beautiful home is now a resort with a restaurant for fine dining. They also host many different events. This month they will host a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater.

In the main hall you can see the long staircase and some of the detail plaster work on the ceiling.

The "White" Ballroom was a sitting room when they were not entertaining and two of the daughters were married in this room.

They still host parties and weddings in this lovely space. 

One of the parlors.

The dining room.

This ingenious, yet simple contraption is a plate warmer. You stack the plates in there and set it in front of the fire. The plates are nice and toasty when it's time to put food on them and serve.

The original china to the plantation.

Another sitting room. Today it is set up as a music room.

I love this music cabinet for sheet music.

The hallway in the top floor was used like a "family room" by the Randolphs.

A look at the river from the upstairs, or top floor.

The upstairs is where the bedrooms were located. This is the wife's bedroom, 

and across the hall was the Master Bedroom. The 2 'wings' or ells of the house are where the children's bedrooms and some guest rooms were. Boys in one ell and girls in another. 

The ground floor where the restaurant is located.

Someday, before we finish this job we plan on eating at this restaurant. They have great reviews.

 We walked out he front gate, across the street and up the levy to see the view of the house from the river.

These are the bonfires that they build all along the Mississippi River throughout the state. They burn them on Christmas eve.

 Yes, from the top two floors of the house you can see the river traffic if the ships are big enough. And these ocean going vessels are definitely big enough.

It was a lovely journey back in time to another era...

You will have to come Nottoway sometimes