Maine begins 2025 with a new national monument, the Frances Perkins Homestead National Monument.  It honors Frances Perkins (1880-1965) and her trailblazing advocacy for social justice and labor rights. The first woman to hold a Cabinet position in the U.S. as Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, she was the driving force behind many of the benefits and safeguards American workers count on today, including social security, unemployment insurance, health insurance, old-age insurance, a 40-hour work week, minimum wage, and the abolition of child labor.

One of only 13 of 430 national park sites designated to honor women, the Frances Perkins Homestead is located in the scenic town of Newcastle, adjacent to the Damariscotta River. Visitors can explore the historic home and trails where Perkins rejuvenated and sought inspiration throughout her 12 years as U.S. Secretary of Labor.