US Post Office-Federal Building-Brenham
Also known as: Brenham Post Office/Federal Building; Cbd-87
Why it's listed
Facing west on a large corner lot in downtown Brenham, this one-story post office and federal building was completed in 1915 and still serves as a post office. Red load-bearing brick walls rest on a concrete foundation and support a hipped sheet metal roof. The plan is a T, formed by a rectangular main block with square appendages at the northwest and southwest corners. The seven-bay west facade is dominated by six giant order columns with Ionic capitals set into a recessed portico, with a limestone stringcourse and denticulated cornice above. Its design is credited to Treasury architect James A. Wetmore, and it resembles the post office built in Belton, Texas, at the same time. The building was recognized for its Classical Revival architecture, which shows Georgian Revival influence. It is one of only two major institutional buildings in Brenham in this style, the other being the high school. It remains in excellent condition and retains a high degree of integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a strong example of Classical Revival architecture, with giant order columns, a symmetrical facade and a denticulated cornice. It is one of only two major institutional buildings in Brenham in that style, the other being Brenham High School. It also retains a high degree of integrity and relates to the local context of community development and regional expansion from 1870 to 1941.
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 90000449, listed March 29, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 105 S. Market, Brenham |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | March 29, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000449 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915 |
| Architect / builder | Wetmore, James A. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as being in excellent condition and still used as a post office. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.16207, -96.40714 (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 90000449.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002494
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.