U.S. Post Office
Also known as: Federal Building/U.S. Post Office-Bell Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1932-33 at the corner of 18th and K Streets in downtown Merced, this former post office later became a federal office building. Allison and Allison of Los Angeles designed it with Mediterranean touches: a steel frame under brick walls finished in stucco, a hipped roof of ceramic mission tile, terra cotta trim, and a five-bay arcade of round-arched windows across the front. Inside, the main lobby keeps its marble floor and wainscot, bronze grilles and writing tables, chandeliers, and a coffered plaster ceiling. Two tempera murals added in 1937 through a New Deal program hang over office doors. The building was listed because it is a well-preserved example of early 1930s eclectic public architecture, holds the city's only murals of their kind, and was Merced's first federal building, built during the Hoover-era federal construction program. It remains a local landmark and visual anchor for its neighborhood.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local significance in architecture, art and politics/government. It is a well-preserved example of the eclectic revivalism of early 1930s public buildings, with Mediterranean elements. Its 1937 New Deal tempera murals are the only works of their kind in the city. It was Merced's first federal building, built under the Hoover-era federal construction program.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83001208, listed February 10, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 401 W. 18th St., Merced |
|---|---|
| County | Merced County |
| Listed | February 10, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001208 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Allison and Allison, Los Angeles |
| Architectural style | Eclectic revival with Mediterranean elements (round-arch windows, stucco walls, ceramic tile roof) |
| Areas of significance | Art, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior remains essentially original and the building is well maintained. The interior was altered into federal offices, but the main lobby retains much of its original character. The basement is vacant and used for storage and mechanical rooms. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 37.30223, -120.48146 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83001208.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14684201
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.