Explore the Frances Perkins National Monument in Newcastle
Did you know that previously only 12 out of 430 national park sites were designated to honor women? The 13th, as of 2024, is the Frances Perkins National Monument, honoring Frances Perkins’ (1880-1965) 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, such as minimum wage, overtime pay, unemployment insurance and a ban on child labor.
National monuments are worthy of attention; sites designated by U.S. presidents as “nationally significant lands and waters set aside for permanent protection.” But why is a national monument for Frances Perkins located in Newcastle, Maine? Though Perkins was born in Boston in 1880, she had roots in Maine and utilized this place – her family’s homestead – as a place to rest, seek inspiration and rejuvenate throughout her 12 years as U.S. Secretary of Labor. We’ll take this as evidence that everyone needs some time away in Maine, whether for a vacation or workation!
Explore the National Monument & Year-Round Nature Trails
Today, you can contemplate the iconic legacy of Perkins at this new national monument. Explore the 1837 Brick House and connected barns (open seasonally) on 57 acres within a protected landscape of fields and forest. The surrounding lands, featuring 2.8 miles of picturesque stone walls defining pastures and woodland, are open year-round from dawn to dusk. Located adjacent to the scenic Damariscotta River, the trails are ideal for nature walks in the spring and summer, leaf-peeping in the fall, and snowshoeing in the winter.
Things To Do in Newcastle, Damariscotta and Boothbay Area
The “twin villages” of Damariscotta and Newcastle beckon with eclectic shops, local restaurants serving up Maine favorites and craft breweries. A must-visit for beer enthusiasts while in Newcastle is Oxbow Brewing Company’s farmhouse brewery, the founding location of a top Maine beer brand. Pop into King Eider’s Pub for fresh seafood, sandwiches and more. If history is still on your mind, Indian Trail Antiques features four floors of high quality, unique antiques in its massive 15,000-square-foot, 19th century barn.
Just a 20-minute drive away are the coastal communities of Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor, featuring attractions like the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, boat tours and more. If it’s more of the coast you crave, be sure to stop by Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in Bristol, about a half-hour drive from the Homestead.