Maine’s 2025 March Update

March 3, 2025

The Harriet Beecher Stowe House

The Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Brunswick was the home of American author and antislavery advocate Harriet Beecher Stowe. Stowe lived here between 1850 and 1852, and it was here that she wrote “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (1852). It’s also where Stowe sheltered John Andrew Jackson, a formerly enslaved person, and freedom seeker who escaped from South Carolina. Today, you can see “Harriet’s Writing Room,” where she wrote the legendary book that helped fuel the abolitionist movement. Bowdoin College now owns the building, which is a National Historic Landmark and a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site. The home is open to the public by appointment and most Thursdays and Fridays throughout the year, free of charge.

The Sarah Orne Jewett House

The family home and birthplace of one of Maine’s most influential 19th-century authors, The Sarah Orne Jewett House in South Berwick was where Jewett wrote her first novel, “Deephaven,” published in 1877. The house also served as a beloved haven that Jewett returned to every summer, year after year, even after moving to Boston during the height of her career. Now a National Historic Landmark, the home reflects the Jewett sisters’ unique styles, traditional aesthetics, and the artistic and literal freedom of Sarah herself. Plan your visit when their season begins on June 5th. Tours run on the hour from 12-3pm on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The Frances Perkins National Monument

Newly designated in 2024,  The Frances Perkins National Monument in Newcastle was the homestead of the remarkable woman who shaped American labor laws, helped establish Social Security, and worked to abolish child labor. Located on a 57-acre saltwater farm adjacent to the picturesque Damariscotta River, the property served as a place of solace and rejuvenation for Perkins during her demanding career under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The Monument’s grounds and trails are open year-round from dawn to dusk – perfect for a nature walk (or snowshoeing) and picnicking. The summer of 2025 will bring additional experiences, with a welcome reception space, gift shop and self-guided exhibit on the life and legacy of Frances Perkins available in the historic barn Wednesday through Sunday. Check the website for updates and special events throughout the year.

The Margaret Chase Smith Library

The Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan was built around the former home of the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress. Senator Margaret Chase Smith had a 32-year congressional career and was known for her integrity and commitment to public service.  You can schedule an appointment to tour this remarkable facility, now a Congressional Research Library, which encompasses an archive, museum, educational facility, and public policy center filled with documents, awards, photographs, and memorabilia. The library is located on fifteen picturesque acres overlooking the banks of the Kennebec River. The library plans to be open on weekdays from 10am-4pm beginning this spring.