In the summer of 2004 an electrical fire destroyed a part of Laura and heavily damaged the main house, also. A huge kitchen, which was separate from the house (designed as such because of fire hazards) was connected to the house with a beautiful second floor covered walkway with bannisters matching the front porch of Laura. The kitchen and the walkway were destroyed.
The very thick plank floors in a part of the house were burned on the top, however, to keep the house as authenic as possible, the planks were turned over to the unburned side and are in the house today.
The complete restoration of the main house was almost complete, when, in August, 2005, Hurricane Katrina came along and peeled the roof back. In spite of it all, Laura is beautiful today.
The house and grounds are open for guided tours.