August 13, 2024
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Biden:
I am writing to you today on behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks – an organization that studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation of America’s National Park System – in support of designating the Frances Perkins Homestead National Historic Landmark as a national monument.
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) has over 2,700 members with more than 50,000 collective years of experience serving as stewards of our national parks and public lands. Among our members are former NPS directors, regional directors, superintendents, resource specialists, park rangers, maintenance and administrative staff, and a full array of other former employees, volunteers, and supporters.
The Coalition firmly supports the addition of new park units that honor and illuminate stories that represent the full range of the American experience, including those of women whose lives and accomplishments should be memorialized. Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet, is a shining example.
Often referred to as “the woman behind the New Deal,” Perkins secured protections for American workers that continue to serve as cornerstones of our society today, including Social Security, minimum wage, unemployment insurance, and a ban on child labor. She formulated policies and programs that bolstered the economy and lifted millions of working people across the country from the Great Depression—at a time when this leadership was desperately needed.
The Frances Perkins Homestead National Historic Landmark, located in Newcastle, Maine, is where the Perkins family spent generations farming, building businesses, and being part of the fabric of their communities. The Homestead’s 1837 Brick House, connected ell, and barn are preserved to maintain the look and feel of the place Frances owned from 1927 to 1965. The personal mementos, artifacts, and historical photos of Perkins and other family members personalize the site and keep the focus on the home’s significance—the place that shaped the character of Frances Perkins and set the stage for her incredible accomplishments.
In addition, the 57-acre Homestead property, which was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2014, is one of the last nearly untouched saltwater farms along the Damariscotta River. It offers a walking trail system to the Damariscotta River, traversing past early family home foundations and other archaeological areas comprising a cultural landscape ready for interpretation to enhance and enrich visitor experiences.
Maine attracted over 15 million visitors in 2022. These visitors spent more than $8.6 billion in the state, including more than $1 billion on activities, attractions, and recreation. The Frances Perkins Homestead NHL is sandwiched between two of the most popular in-state sites: Acadia National Park and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Elevating the Homestead to a National Monument, managed by the National Park Service in partnership with the Frances Perkins Center, would help educate more visitors about the important role Frances Perkins played in American history.
We have numerous Coalition members who have lived and/or worked in Maine during their careers with the National Park Service. We know that Mainers care about preserving their heritage, and we support those in Maine – and across the country – who are asking for your help to ensure the legacy of Francs Perkins is protected for future generations. We urge you to move swiftly and use your authority under the Antiquities Act to designate the Frances Perkins Homestead National Historic Landmark as a national monument.
Sincerely,
Philip A. Francis, Jr.
Chair of the Executive Council
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
CC:
The Honorable Charles F. Sams, III, Director, National Park Service
The Honorable Brenda Mallory, Chair, Council on Environmental Quality
The Honorable Susan Collins, U.S. Senate
The Honorable Angus King, Jr., U.S. Senate
The Honorable Chellie Pingreee, U.S. House of Representatives
Shantha Alonso, Directeor, Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, Department of Interior