Frances Perkins National Monument Established in Maine
President Biden honors the legacy of the first woman Cabinet Secretary and New Deal architect by designating her family homestead as a national monument.
- The Frances Perkins National Monument in Newcastle, Maine, commemorates the life and contributions of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a U.S. Cabinet position as Secretary of Labor.
- Perkins was a key architect of the New Deal, championing landmark labor reforms such as Social Security, minimum wage, unemployment insurance, and child labor prohibitions.
- Her family homestead, preserved for over 270 years, played a significant role in her life and career and will now be administered by the National Park Service.
- The designation aligns with President Biden’s efforts to elevate women’s history, building on his March 2024 Executive Order to expand recognition of historic sites tied to women’s contributions.
- The site includes the Perkins family brick house, barn, gardens, and other historic features, offering visitors insight into the life and legacy of a pivotal figure in American labor and social policy.
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