The AXA Building originally called the Espenscheid Building, was constructed in 1905 for Charles Espenscheid, a St Louis investor. Located at the southeast corner of Fifth and Delaware, which was near the center of the Leavenworth business district, the building was designed as a rental property to house several businesses and to provide office space for professional men.

The large commercial structure was designed by William B Feth, a prominent Leavenworth architect. The general contractor was R B Yoakum of Leavenworth who indicated in the bid that his firm could erect the building in four months. Tholen Brothers, also of Leavenworth, was the heating and plumbing contractor. The cost of the building was placed at $36,000.

The AXA Building is a good example of the Victorian influence on Kansas architecture. It' s extremely ornate facade demonstrates the decorative quality of turn-of-the-century commercial architecture. - NRHP, 17 March 1972