該建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)由曾在(zai)(zai)英國(guo)留學的(de)(de)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)師沈琪主(zhu)持(chi)設計(ji),用(yong)(yong)清(qing)朝慈(ci)禧太后(hou)挪用(yong)(yong)的(de)(de)海軍經費修頤(yi)和(he)園剩(sheng)下的(de)(de)款項做(zuo)資(zi)金(jin),由中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)營造廠施(shi)工建(jian)(jian)造。樓群(qun)皆為(wei)(wei)西(xi)(xi)洋(yang)古(gu)典(dian)形(xing)(xing)式(shi)。其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間的(de)(de)主(zhu)樓為(wei)(wei)歐洲古(gu)典(dian)式(shi)灰(hui)磚(zhuan)樓,前后(hou)面三間樓門(men),中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)部(bu)門(men)廳以上三層,兩(liang)(liang)側及(ji)翼樓均為(wei)(wei)二層,外檐為(wei)(wei)聯拱(gong)柱廊。樓體滿布精細(xi)的(de)(de)磚(zhuan)雕花飾,門(men)窗、天花、地(di)板(ban)和(he)護壁板(ban)全用(yong)(yong)優(you)質木(mu)材精雕細(xi)作(zuo),華麗壯觀(guan),表現出歐洲折(zhe)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)主(zhu)義風格(ge)。主(zhu)樓的(de)(de)東(dong)(dong)、西(xi)(xi)、北面各有(you)(you)一(yi)座樓房(fang),形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)一(yi)組(zu)樓群(qun)。在(zai)(zai)這組(zu)樓群(qun)的(de)(de)東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)兩(liang)(liang)邊各有(you)(you)一(yi)組(zu)風格(ge)相(xiang)同(tong)的(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)。東(dong)(dong)部(bu)作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)海軍部(bu),西(xi)(xi)部(bu)作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)陸軍部(bu)。大門(men)在(zai)(zai)主(zhu)樓前,朝南,面闊五間,灰(hui)筒瓦懸(xuan)山大脊(ji)頂,中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間三間開門(men)的(de)(de)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)木(mu)構(gou)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)形(xing)(xing)式(shi),東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)山墻外露七架梁。門(men)前有(you)(you)3米多高石獅一(yi)對,隔街對面有(you)(you)一(yi)座懸(xuan)山頂磚(zhuan)雕大影壁。反映了(le)二十世紀初(chu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)設計(ji)和(he)營造施(shi)工的(de)(de)高超水平。西(xi)(xi)洋(yang)古(gu)典(dian)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)風格(ge)如此大膽地(di)運用(yong)(yong)于(yu)新建(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)清(qing)廷軍事衙署,也體現出西(xi)(xi)風東(dong)(dong)漸的(de)(de)歷史時代的(de)(de)奇異心態。
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(yong)正(zheng)帝(di)賜允(yun)禟宅(zhai)第于五子弘(hong)晝,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)和(he)親(qin);西(xi)部(bu)(bu)(bu)原為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)順(shun)治(zhi)帝(di)五子常寧的恭親(qin),到清(qing)末(mo)時已遞降為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)公(gong)(gong)府(fu)(fu)(fu),分別由兩府(fu)(fu)(fu)后(hou)裔承熙(xi)、溥廉居此,因(yin)此兩府(fu)(fu)(fu)被時人稱(cheng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)承公(gong)(gong)府(fu)(fu)(fu)、廉公(gong)(gong)府(fu)(fu)(fu),再晚(wan)則又分別稱(cheng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)德公(gong)(gong)府(fu)(fu)(fu)(承熙(xi)孫德茂)、毓(yu)公(gong)(gong)府(fu)(fu)(fu)(溥廉子毓(yu)璋)。1885年(nian),清(qing)朝創辦(ban)了(le)海(hai)(hai)(hai)軍(jun)衙門(men),海(hai)(hai)(hai)軍(jun)事務。中日甲午(wu)戰爭后(hou)北(bei)洋水師全(quan)軍(jun)覆沒(mei)后(hou),清(qing)政(zheng)府(fu)(fu)(fu)撤消了(le)已無海(hai)(hai)(hai)軍(jun)的海(hai)(hai)(hai)軍(jun)衙門(men)。1906年(nian)(光緒三十二(er)年(nian)),清(qing)朝政(zheng)府(fu)(fu)(fu)“改定(ding)官制(zhi)以為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)立憲預備”,實行(xing)“新政(zheng)”,改兵部(bu)(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)陸(lu)軍(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu),將兵部(bu)(bu)(bu)、練兵處(chu)、太仆(pu)寺合(he)并為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)陸(lu)軍(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu),1906年(nian)清(qing)政(zheng)府(fu)(fu)(fu)用(yong)慈禧挪(nuo)用(yong)的海(hai)(hai)(hai)軍(jun)經費修頤和(he)園(yuan)剩下的款項興建(jian)了(le)東(dong)西(xi)兩組西(xi)洋巴洛(luo)克式磚木結構(gou)樓房(fang),西(xi)部(bu)(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)陸(lu)軍(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu),東(dong)部(bu)(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)陸(lu)軍(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)所屬的貴(gui)胄學(xue)堂(tang)(tang)。1907年(nian)(宣統元(yuan)年(nian))清(qing)政(zheng)府(fu)(fu)(fu)重建(jian)海(hai)(hai)(hai)軍(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu),撤消貴(gui)胄學(xue)堂(tang)(tang),后(hou)將貴(gui)胄學(xue)堂(tang)(tang)改為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)海(hai)(hai)(hai)軍(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)。自此該(gai)建(jian)筑群形(xing)成為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)清(qing)末(mo)陸(lu)軍(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)和(he)海(hai)(hai)(hai)軍(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)建(jian)筑群。
中(zhong)華民國(guo)成(cheng)立后(hou),袁世(shi)凱在1912年(nian)將總統府(fu)(fu)和(he)(he)國(guo)務(wu)院(yuan)(yuan)設于此。1924一1926年(nian)為(wei)段(duan)祺瑞執政(zheng)府(fu)(fu)駐(zhu)地(di)。1926年(nian)3月18日(ri)(ri),學(xue)生在此地(di)的大門(men)前(qian)(qian)請愿時與軍(jun)(jun)警(jing)發生沖突,死(si)亡多(duo)人(ren),發生了震驚中(zhong)外(wai)的“三(san)·一八”慘案(an)。1928年(nian)后(hou),這里(li)改為(wei)北(bei)平衛戍(shu)區(qu)司(si)令(ling)部(bu)。“七七事變(bian)”前(qian)(qian),為(wei)宋(song)哲元二十(shi)(shi)九(jiu)軍(jun)(jun)軍(jun)(jun)部(bu)及冀察政(zheng)務(wu)委員會(hui)所在地(di)。1937年(nian),日(ri)(ri)軍(jun)(jun)侵占北(bei)平,西(xi)院(yuan)(yuan)、東(dong)(dong)院(yuan)(yuan)分別由日(ri)(ri)本(ben)華北(bei)駐(zhu)軍(jun)(jun)總司(si)令(ling)部(bu)和(he)(he)特務(wu)機關“興亞(ya)院(yuan)(yuan)”使用。抗戰(zhan)勝(sheng)利(li)后(hou),國(guo)民政(zheng)府(fu)(fu)接管,改為(wei)十(shi)(shi)一戰(zhan)區(qu)長(chang)官司(si)令(ling)部(bu)、國(guo)民黨北(bei)平警(jing)備司(si)令(ling)部(bu)等。1949年(nian),中(zhong)華人(ren)民共和(he)(he)國(guo)成(cheng)立后(hou)用作中(zhong)國(guo)人(ren)民大學(xue)校(xiao)舍(she)。1978年(nian)起,西(xi)院(yuan)(yuan)主樓(lou)屬(shu)中(zhong)國(guo)人(ren)民大學(xue)書報資料(liao)中(zhong)心(xin)和(he)(he)清史研(yan)究(jiu)所,后(hou)配(pei)樓(lou)仍為(wei)宿舍(she);東(dong)(dong)院(yuan)(yuan)樓(lou)群則劃(hua)歸(gui)中(zhong)國(guo)社會(hui)科(ke)學(xue)院(yuan)(yuan)的所屬(shu)日(ri)(ri)、俄、亞(ya)太、拉美、西(xi)亞(ya)非等多(duo)個國(guo)際問(wen)題類研(yan)究(jiu)所的辦公地(di)。1984年(nian),該建(jian)筑以“段(duan)祺瑞執政(zheng)府(fu)(fu)舊址”名稱被列為(wei)北(bei)京市文物保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)單(dan)位。2006年(nian)5月被國(guo)務(wu)院(yuan)(yuan)定為(wei)第六批全(quan)國(guo)文物保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)單(dan)位。同時更名為(wei)“清陸(lu)軍(jun)(jun)部(bu)和(he)(he)海軍(jun)(jun)部(bu)舊址”。