This complex of two buildings, the former federal building and post office, represents the best examples of federal architecture in Wenatchee. The first federal building was built in 1917 at the corner of Yakima and Mission and housed the post office until 1937, when the second building was constructed. The first building then became known as the post office annex and housed many federal offices, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The basement of the annex building, filled with giant refrigerators and laboratories, bears witness to pioneering research in North Central Washington in controlled atmosphere storage. The buildings were purchased in October 1975 by the City of Wenatchee for the new home of the North Central Washington Museum. Later changes included a skywalk connecting the buildings and enlarged areas for an art gallery and the Heritage Reference Center, Central Washington's main repository of historic artifacts. In 2001, the museum changed its name to the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Both the post office and the annex are listed on the Wenatchee and National Registers of Historic Places.