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Little remains of the historic Nottoway plantation home in Iberville Parish after a fire reduced the 160-year-old mansion to rubble on Thursday.Ìý

Charred pieces framework had fallen to the slab, with soot surrounding the once grandiose property. The prominent white columns that supported the roof were mostly gone.Ìý

White Castle officials and have begun combing through the remains.Ìý

The blaze started in the building's south wing before spreading to the main house on Thursday afternoon. Dozens of fire response vehicles, ambulances and civilian cars lined La. 1, as wind kicked billows of smoke into the sky.

"The loss of Nottoway is not just a loss for Iberville Parish, but for the entire state of ¶¶Òõh," parish president Chris Daigle said in a statement. "It was a cornerstone of our tourism economy and a site of national significance. Its absence will be felt deeply — by our community, our state, and by the many who found meaning in its preservation."

Here's what the Nottoway plantation looked like in the Friday morning light. You can see photos and video .Ìý