該(gai)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)由曾在英(ying)國(guo)留學的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)中(zhong)國(guo)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)師沈(shen)琪主(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)設計(ji),用(yong)清朝慈禧(xi)太后挪用(yong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)海軍(jun)經費修頤和園(yuan)剩下的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)款項做資金,由中(zhong)國(guo)營(ying)造廠施工(gong)建(jian)(jian)造。樓(lou)(lou)群皆為西(xi)洋古典形式。其中(zhong)間(jian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)主(zhu)(zhu)樓(lou)(lou)為歐洲古典式灰磚(zhuan)樓(lou)(lou),前(qian)(qian)后面(mian)(mian)三(san)間(jian)樓(lou)(lou)門(men)(men),中(zhong)部門(men)(men)廳以上三(san)層(ceng),兩(liang)側(ce)及翼樓(lou)(lou)均為二(er)層(ceng),外(wai)檐為聯拱柱廊。樓(lou)(lou)體(ti)滿(man)布精(jing)細(xi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)磚(zhuan)雕花飾,門(men)(men)窗、天花、地板和護壁板全用(yong)優質木材(cai)精(jing)雕細(xi)作,華麗壯觀,表現(xian)出歐洲折中(zhong)主(zhu)(zhu)義風(feng)格。主(zhu)(zhu)樓(lou)(lou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)東(dong)(dong)(dong)、西(xi)、北面(mian)(mian)各有(you)一(yi)(yi)座樓(lou)(lou)房,形成一(yi)(yi)組樓(lou)(lou)群。在這組樓(lou)(lou)群的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)東(dong)(dong)(dong)西(xi)兩(liang)邊各有(you)一(yi)(yi)組風(feng)格相同的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)。東(dong)(dong)(dong)部作為海軍(jun)部,西(xi)部作為陸(lu)軍(jun)部。大(da)(da)門(men)(men)在主(zhu)(zhu)樓(lou)(lou)前(qian)(qian),朝南,面(mian)(mian)闊(kuo)五間(jian),灰筒瓦懸山大(da)(da)脊頂,中(zhong)間(jian)三(san)間(jian)開門(men)(men)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)中(zhong)國(guo)木構(gou)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)形式,東(dong)(dong)(dong)西(xi)山墻外(wai)露(lu)七架梁(liang)。門(men)(men)前(qian)(qian)有(you)3米(mi)多高石獅一(yi)(yi)對(dui),隔街對(dui)面(mian)(mian)有(you)一(yi)(yi)座懸山頂磚(zhuan)雕大(da)(da)影壁。反映了二(er)十世紀(ji)初中(zhong)國(guo)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)設計(ji)和營(ying)造施工(gong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)高超水平。西(xi)洋古典建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)風(feng)格如此大(da)(da)膽地運(yun)用(yong)于新建(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)清廷軍(jun)事(shi)衙署(shu),也體(ti)現(xian)出西(xi)風(feng)東(dong)(dong)(dong)漸的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)歷史(shi)時代的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)奇異(yi)心態。
該建筑群東部原為康熙帝九子允禟的府第。允禟于1726年(雍正四年)被禁錮致死。1733年(雍正十一年)雍正(zheng)帝賜允(yun)禟宅第(di)于(yu)五(wu)(wu)子弘晝,為(wei)(wei)和親;西(xi)(xi)部(bu)(bu)原(yuan)為(wei)(wei)順治(zhi)帝五(wu)(wu)子常寧的(de)恭(gong)親,到清(qing)(qing)末時(shi)已遞降為(wei)(wei)公府,分別由兩(liang)府后(hou)(hou)裔(yi)承(cheng)(cheng)熙(xi)、溥廉居(ju)此(ci)(ci),因(yin)此(ci)(ci)兩(liang)府被時(shi)人(ren)稱為(wei)(wei)承(cheng)(cheng)公府、廉公府,再晚(wan)則(ze)又分別稱為(wei)(wei)德(de)公府(承(cheng)(cheng)熙(xi)孫德(de)茂)、毓公府(溥廉子毓璋)。1885年(nian)(nian)(nian),清(qing)(qing)朝創辦了(le)(le)海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)衙(ya)門,海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)事務。中日甲午(wu)戰爭后(hou)(hou)北洋(yang)水師全軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)覆沒后(hou)(hou),清(qing)(qing)政府撤(che)(che)消了(le)(le)已無海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)的(de)海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)衙(ya)門。1906年(nian)(nian)(nian)(光緒三十二年(nian)(nian)(nian)),清(qing)(qing)朝政府“改定官制以為(wei)(wei)立憲預備”,實行“新政”,改兵(bing)(bing)部(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)陸(lu)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu),將(jiang)兵(bing)(bing)部(bu)(bu)、練兵(bing)(bing)處、太仆(pu)寺合并為(wei)(wei)陸(lu)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu),1906年(nian)(nian)(nian)清(qing)(qing)政府用慈禧挪用的(de)海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)經費修頤和園剩(sheng)下的(de)款項興建了(le)(le)東西(xi)(xi)兩(liang)組西(xi)(xi)洋(yang)巴洛克(ke)式(shi)磚木(mu)結構樓房,西(xi)(xi)部(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)陸(lu)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu),東部(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)陸(lu)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)所屬的(de)貴胄(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)學堂(tang)。1907年(nian)(nian)(nian)(宣統元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian))清(qing)(qing)政府重建海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu),撤(che)(che)消貴胄(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)學堂(tang),后(hou)(hou)將(jiang)貴胄(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)學堂(tang)改為(wei)(wei)海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)。自此(ci)(ci)該建筑(zhu)群(qun)形成為(wei)(wei)清(qing)(qing)末陸(lu)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)和海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)建筑(zhu)群(qun)。
中(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)(hua)民國(guo)(guo)成立后(hou),袁世(shi)凱在(zai)1912年(nian)(nian)(nian)將總統府和(he)國(guo)(guo)務院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)設于此(ci)(ci)。1924一(yi)1926年(nian)(nian)(nian)為(wei)段(duan)祺瑞執政(zheng)(zheng)府駐地。1926年(nian)(nian)(nian)3月(yue)(yue)18日(ri),學生在(zai)此(ci)(ci)地的(de)大(da)門前請愿時(shi)與(yu)軍(jun)警發生沖突(tu),死亡多(duo)人,發生了震驚中(zhong)(zhong)外的(de)“三(san)·一(yi)八(ba)”慘(can)案。1928年(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou),這里改為(wei)北平(ping)衛戍區(qu)司令(ling)(ling)部(bu)。“七七事(shi)變”前,為(wei)宋哲(zhe)元二十九軍(jun)軍(jun)部(bu)及冀察(cha)政(zheng)(zheng)務委(wei)員會(hui)所在(zai)地。1937年(nian)(nian)(nian),日(ri)軍(jun)侵(qin)占北平(ping),西院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)、東(dong)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)分別(bie)由日(ri)本(ben)華(hua)(hua)北駐軍(jun)總司令(ling)(ling)部(bu)和(he)特務機關“興亞(ya)(ya)(ya)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)”使用(yong)(yong)。抗戰(zhan)(zhan)勝利后(hou),國(guo)(guo)民政(zheng)(zheng)府接管,改為(wei)十一(yi)戰(zhan)(zhan)區(qu)長官司令(ling)(ling)部(bu)、國(guo)(guo)民黨北平(ping)警備(bei)司令(ling)(ling)部(bu)等。1949年(nian)(nian)(nian),中(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)(hua)人民共和(he)國(guo)(guo)成立后(hou)用(yong)(yong)作中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)人民大(da)學校舍。1978年(nian)(nian)(nian)起,西院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)主樓(lou)屬(shu)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)人民大(da)學書報資(zi)料中(zhong)(zhong)心和(he)清史研(yan)究(jiu)所,后(hou)配樓(lou)仍為(wei)宿(su)舍;東(dong)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)樓(lou)群則劃歸中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)社會(hui)科學院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)所屬(shu)日(ri)、俄、亞(ya)(ya)(ya)太、拉美(mei)、西亞(ya)(ya)(ya)非等多(duo)個國(guo)(guo)際問(wen)題類研(yan)究(jiu)所的(de)辦公地。1984年(nian)(nian)(nian),該建筑以“段(duan)祺瑞執政(zheng)(zheng)府舊(jiu)址(zhi)”名稱被(bei)列為(wei)北京市文物保(bao)護(hu)單位。2006年(nian)(nian)(nian)5月(yue)(yue)被(bei)國(guo)(guo)務院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)定為(wei)第六批全國(guo)(guo)文物保(bao)護(hu)單位。同時(shi)更名為(wei)“清陸軍(jun)部(bu)和(he)海軍(jun)部(bu)舊(jiu)址(zhi)”。