該建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)由曾在英國(guo)(guo)(guo)留學的(de)(de)中國(guo)(guo)(guo)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)師沈琪主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)設(she)計,用清朝慈禧太后(hou)(hou)挪(nuo)用的(de)(de)海軍(jun)經(jing)費(fei)修頤和園剩(sheng)下的(de)(de)款項(xiang)做資金,由中國(guo)(guo)(guo)營(ying)造廠施工建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)造。樓(lou)(lou)群皆為(wei)(wei)(wei)西(xi)(xi)洋古(gu)典形式。其(qi)中間(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)樓(lou)(lou)為(wei)(wei)(wei)歐洲(zhou)(zhou)古(gu)典式灰磚樓(lou)(lou),前后(hou)(hou)面(mian)(mian)三間(jian)(jian)樓(lou)(lou)門(men)(men)(men),中部(bu)門(men)(men)(men)廳(ting)以上三層(ceng),兩側及翼樓(lou)(lou)均(jun)為(wei)(wei)(wei)二層(ceng),外(wai)檐為(wei)(wei)(wei)聯拱(gong)柱廊。樓(lou)(lou)體滿布(bu)精細(xi)的(de)(de)磚雕花飾,門(men)(men)(men)窗、天(tian)花、地(di)板和護壁板全用優質木材(cai)精雕細(xi)作(zuo),華麗壯觀,表現出歐洲(zhou)(zhou)折中主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)義(yi)風(feng)(feng)格。主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)樓(lou)(lou)的(de)(de)東(dong)(dong)(dong)、西(xi)(xi)、北(bei)面(mian)(mian)各有(you)一座(zuo)樓(lou)(lou)房(fang),形成一組(zu)樓(lou)(lou)群。在這組(zu)樓(lou)(lou)群的(de)(de)東(dong)(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)兩邊各有(you)一組(zu)風(feng)(feng)格相同的(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)。東(dong)(dong)(dong)部(bu)作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)(wei)海軍(jun)部(bu),西(xi)(xi)部(bu)作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)(wei)陸軍(jun)部(bu)。大(da)門(men)(men)(men)在主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)樓(lou)(lou)前,朝南,面(mian)(mian)闊(kuo)五間(jian)(jian),灰筒瓦(wa)懸山(shan)大(da)脊頂,中間(jian)(jian)三間(jian)(jian)開門(men)(men)(men)的(de)(de)中國(guo)(guo)(guo)木構建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)形式,東(dong)(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)山(shan)墻外(wai)露七架梁。門(men)(men)(men)前有(you)3米多高石獅一對,隔街對面(mian)(mian)有(you)一座(zuo)懸山(shan)頂磚雕大(da)影壁。反映了二十世紀初中國(guo)(guo)(guo)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)設(she)計和營(ying)造施工的(de)(de)高超水平。西(xi)(xi)洋古(gu)典建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)風(feng)(feng)格如此大(da)膽地(di)運用于(yu)新建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)清廷軍(jun)事衙署(shu),也體現出西(xi)(xi)風(feng)(feng)東(dong)(dong)(dong)漸的(de)(de)歷史時(shi)代(dai)的(de)(de)奇(qi)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)雍正帝(di)賜(si)允禟宅(zhai)第于五子(zi)弘晝(zhou),為(wei)和親(qin);西部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)原為(wei)順治帝(di)五子(zi)常(chang)寧的恭親(qin),到(dao)清(qing)末(mo)時已遞(di)降為(wei)公府,分別由兩府后裔承(cheng)(cheng)熙(xi)、溥(pu)廉居(ju)此(ci),因(yin)此(ci)兩府被時人稱為(wei)承(cheng)(cheng)公府、廉公府,再晚則又分別稱為(wei)德公府(承(cheng)(cheng)熙(xi)孫德茂)、毓(yu)公府(溥(pu)廉子(zi)毓(yu)璋(zhang))。1885年(nian),清(qing)朝(chao)創辦了(le)海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)衙門(men),海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)事(shi)務(wu)。中日甲午戰爭(zheng)后北洋水(shui)師全(quan)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)覆沒后,清(qing)政(zheng)府撤(che)消了(le)已無海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)的海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)衙門(men)。1906年(nian)(光緒三十二年(nian)),清(qing)朝(chao)政(zheng)府“改定官制以為(wei)立憲(xian)預備”,實(shi)行“新政(zheng)”,改兵部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)為(wei)陸(lu)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu),將兵部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)、練兵處、太仆寺合并為(wei)陸(lu)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu),1906年(nian)清(qing)政(zheng)府用慈禧挪用的海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)經費(fei)修頤和園剩下的款項興(xing)建(jian)了(le)東西兩組西洋巴洛克式磚木結構樓房(fang),西部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)為(wei)陸(lu)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu),東部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)為(wei)陸(lu)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)所屬的貴(gui)(gui)胄學堂。1907年(nian)(宣統元年(nian))清(qing)政(zheng)府重建(jian)海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu),撤(che)消貴(gui)(gui)胄學堂,后將貴(gui)(gui)胄學堂改為(wei)海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)。自此(ci)該(gai)建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)群形成為(wei)清(qing)末(mo)陸(lu)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)和海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)群。
中(zhong)華民(min)(min)國(guo)(guo)(guo)成(cheng)立(li)后,袁世凱在1912年(nian)將總(zong)統府和(he)國(guo)(guo)(guo)務(wu)院(yuan)設于此(ci)(ci)。1924一(yi)1926年(nian)為(wei)(wei)段(duan)祺(qi)瑞執政(zheng)(zheng)府駐(zhu)地(di)(di)。1926年(nian)3月18日,學生在此(ci)(ci)地(di)(di)的大(da)門前請愿時與軍(jun)警發生沖突,死亡多人,發生了(le)震驚(jing)中(zhong)外的“三·一(yi)八”慘案。1928年(nian)后,這里改(gai)為(wei)(wei)北(bei)平衛戍區(qu)司(si)令(ling)部。“七七事變”前,為(wei)(wei)宋(song)哲元二十(shi)九軍(jun)軍(jun)部及冀察(cha)政(zheng)(zheng)務(wu)委員會所(suo)在地(di)(di)。1937年(nian),日軍(jun)侵占北(bei)平,西(xi)(xi)院(yuan)、東院(yuan)分別由日本華北(bei)駐(zhu)軍(jun)總(zong)司(si)令(ling)部和(he)特(te)務(wu)機關“興(xing)亞院(yuan)”使用。抗戰勝利后,國(guo)(guo)(guo)民(min)(min)政(zheng)(zheng)府接管,改(gai)為(wei)(wei)十(shi)一(yi)戰區(qu)長(chang)官司(si)令(ling)部、國(guo)(guo)(guo)民(min)(min)黨北(bei)平警備司(si)令(ling)部等。1949年(nian),中(zhong)華人民(min)(min)共和(he)國(guo)(guo)(guo)成(cheng)立(li)后用作中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)人民(min)(min)大(da)學校舍(she)。1978年(nian)起,西(xi)(xi)院(yuan)主樓屬中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)人民(min)(min)大(da)學書報資料(liao)中(zhong)心和(he)清(qing)史研究所(suo),后配(pei)樓仍為(wei)(wei)宿舍(she);東院(yuan)樓群則劃(hua)歸(gui)中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)社會科學院(yuan)的所(suo)屬日、俄、亞太(tai)、拉美、西(xi)(xi)亞非(fei)等多個國(guo)(guo)(guo)際問題類研究所(suo)的辦公(gong)地(di)(di)。1984年(nian),該建(jian)筑以“段(duan)祺(qi)瑞執政(zheng)(zheng)府舊址”名稱(cheng)被列為(wei)(wei)北(bei)京(jing)市文物(wu)保(bao)(bao)護單位。2006年(nian)5月被國(guo)(guo)(guo)務(wu)院(yuan)定為(wei)(wei)第六批全(quan)國(guo)(guo)(guo)文物(wu)保(bao)(bao)護單位。同時更名為(wei)(wei)“清(qing)陸軍(jun)部和(he)海軍(jun)部舊址”。