The Painted Desert Community Complex Historic District is nationally significant as a unique and noteworthy example of Richard Neutra's and Robert Alexander's architectural design. The Painted Desert Community Complex represents Neutra's and Alexander's distinctive approach to wind-swept desert design and is one of only two properties their architectural firm completed for the National Park Service as part of the Mission 66 initiative. The significance of this property was first described in Sarah Allaback's Mission 66 Visitor Center theme study. The initial plans for a Mission 66 headquarters complex were proposed in 1957, Neutra's and Alexander's preliminary design was submitted in 1958, construction began in 1961, the property was formally dedicated in 1963, and construction was fully completed by 1965. - NPS