該(gai)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑由(you)曾在英國(guo)(guo)留學的(de)(de)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑師(shi)沈琪(qi)主持設計(ji),用(yong)清朝慈禧太后挪用(yong)的(de)(de)海軍(jun)經費修頤和園(yuan)剩(sheng)下的(de)(de)款項做資金,由(you)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)營(ying)造(zao)廠施工建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)造(zao)。樓(lou)群(qun)皆為(wei)(wei)西(xi)洋(yang)古(gu)典(dian)形(xing)(xing)式。其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間的(de)(de)主樓(lou)為(wei)(wei)歐(ou)洲古(gu)典(dian)式灰(hui)磚樓(lou),前(qian)后面(mian)三(san)間樓(lou)門,中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)部門廳以上三(san)層,兩(liang)側及翼樓(lou)均為(wei)(wei)二層,外檐為(wei)(wei)聯拱柱廊(lang)。樓(lou)體滿布精(jing)細的(de)(de)磚雕(diao)花飾,門窗(chuang)、天花、地板(ban)和護壁(bi)板(ban)全用(yong)優(you)質木材(cai)精(jing)雕(diao)細作,華麗壯(zhuang)觀,表現出(chu)歐(ou)洲折中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)主義(yi)風格。主樓(lou)的(de)(de)東(dong)(dong)、西(xi)、北面(mian)各有(you)一座樓(lou)房,形(xing)(xing)成一組樓(lou)群(qun)。在這組樓(lou)群(qun)的(de)(de)東(dong)(dong)西(xi)兩(liang)邊各有(you)一組風格相同的(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑。東(dong)(dong)部作為(wei)(wei)海軍(jun)部,西(xi)部作為(wei)(wei)陸軍(jun)部。大(da)門在主樓(lou)前(qian),朝南,面(mian)闊五間,灰(hui)筒(tong)瓦懸山大(da)脊頂,中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間三(san)間開門的(de)(de)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)木構(gou)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑形(xing)(xing)式,東(dong)(dong)西(xi)山墻外露七架梁。門前(qian)有(you)3米(mi)多(duo)高石獅一對,隔街對面(mian)有(you)一座懸山頂磚雕(diao)大(da)影壁(bi)。反(fan)映了二十世紀初中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑設計(ji)和營(ying)造(zao)施工的(de)(de)高超(chao)水平(ping)。西(xi)洋(yang)古(gu)典(dian)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑風格如此大(da)膽地運用(yong)于新建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)清廷(ting)軍(jun)事衙署,也體現出(chu)西(xi)風東(dong)(dong)漸(jian)的(de)(de)歷(li)史時代(dai)的(de)(de)奇異(yi)心(xin)態(tai)。
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)雍正帝賜(si)允禟(tang)宅第于五子弘(hong)晝,為(wei)(wei)(wei)和親;西(xi)(xi)部(bu)(bu)原為(wei)(wei)(wei)順治帝五子常寧的(de)(de)恭(gong)親,到清(qing)(qing)(qing)末時已遞降為(wei)(wei)(wei)公(gong)(gong)府(fu)(fu),分別由兩(liang)府(fu)(fu)后裔承熙、溥(pu)廉(lian)居此(ci),因此(ci)兩(liang)府(fu)(fu)被時人(ren)稱為(wei)(wei)(wei)承公(gong)(gong)府(fu)(fu)、廉(lian)公(gong)(gong)府(fu)(fu),再晚(wan)則又分別稱為(wei)(wei)(wei)德(de)公(gong)(gong)府(fu)(fu)(承熙孫德(de)茂)、毓(yu)公(gong)(gong)府(fu)(fu)(溥(pu)廉(lian)子毓(yu)璋)。1885年(nian)(nian),清(qing)(qing)(qing)朝創辦(ban)了海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)衙門,海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)事務(wu)。中日甲(jia)午戰爭(zheng)后北洋(yang)水(shui)師全軍(jun)(jun)(jun)覆沒后,清(qing)(qing)(qing)政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)府(fu)(fu)撤消了已無海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)的(de)(de)海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)衙門。1906年(nian)(nian)(光緒三十二年(nian)(nian)),清(qing)(qing)(qing)朝政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)府(fu)(fu)“改定官(guan)制以(yi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)立憲預(yu)備”,實行“新(xin)政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)”,改兵(bing)(bing)部(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)陸軍(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu),將兵(bing)(bing)部(bu)(bu)、練兵(bing)(bing)處(chu)、太(tai)仆寺(si)合并(bing)為(wei)(wei)(wei)陸軍(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu),1906年(nian)(nian)清(qing)(qing)(qing)政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)府(fu)(fu)用慈禧挪用的(de)(de)海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)經費修頤和園剩下(xia)的(de)(de)款項興建了東西(xi)(xi)兩(liang)組西(xi)(xi)洋(yang)巴洛(luo)克式磚木結構樓(lou)房,西(xi)(xi)部(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)陸軍(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu),東部(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)陸軍(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)所屬的(de)(de)貴胄(zhou)學(xue)堂(tang)。1907年(nian)(nian)(宣(xuan)統(tong)元年(nian)(nian))清(qing)(qing)(qing)政(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)府(fu)(fu)重建海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu),撤消貴胄(zhou)學(xue)堂(tang),后將貴胄(zhou)學(xue)堂(tang)改為(wei)(wei)(wei)海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)。自此(ci)該建筑群形成為(wei)(wei)(wei)清(qing)(qing)(qing)末陸軍(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)和海(hai)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)建筑群。
中(zhong)華民(min)國(guo)成(cheng)立(li)后(hou)(hou),袁世凱在(zai)1912年(nian)(nian)(nian)將總(zong)(zong)統府(fu)(fu)和國(guo)務(wu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)設于此。1924一1926年(nian)(nian)(nian)為(wei)段(duan)祺瑞(rui)執政(zheng)(zheng)府(fu)(fu)駐地(di)。1926年(nian)(nian)(nian)3月18日,學(xue)(xue)生(sheng)在(zai)此地(di)的大門(men)前請愿時與軍(jun)(jun)警(jing)發生(sheng)沖突(tu),死亡多人(ren),發生(sheng)了震驚中(zhong)外(wai)的“三(san)·一八(ba)”慘案。1928年(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou)(hou),這里改為(wei)北(bei)平(ping)衛戍區(qu)司令(ling)部(bu)(bu)(bu)。“七七事變”前,為(wei)宋哲元二十九軍(jun)(jun)軍(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)及冀(ji)察政(zheng)(zheng)務(wu)委員會(hui)所(suo)在(zai)地(di)。1937年(nian)(nian)(nian),日軍(jun)(jun)侵(qin)占北(bei)平(ping),西院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)、東(dong)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)分別由日本華北(bei)駐軍(jun)(jun)總(zong)(zong)司令(ling)部(bu)(bu)(bu)和特務(wu)機關(guan)“興亞院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)”使用。抗(kang)戰(zhan)勝利(li)后(hou)(hou),國(guo)民(min)政(zheng)(zheng)府(fu)(fu)接管,改為(wei)十一戰(zhan)區(qu)長官司令(ling)部(bu)(bu)(bu)、國(guo)民(min)黨北(bei)平(ping)警(jing)備司令(ling)部(bu)(bu)(bu)等(deng)。1949年(nian)(nian)(nian),中(zhong)華人(ren)民(min)共和國(guo)成(cheng)立(li)后(hou)(hou)用作中(zhong)國(guo)人(ren)民(min)大學(xue)(xue)校舍。1978年(nian)(nian)(nian)起,西院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)主樓(lou)屬中(zhong)國(guo)人(ren)民(min)大學(xue)(xue)書報資料(liao)中(zhong)心和清(qing)史研(yan)究所(suo),后(hou)(hou)配(pei)樓(lou)仍為(wei)宿舍;東(dong)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)樓(lou)群(qun)則劃(hua)歸中(zhong)國(guo)社(she)會(hui)科學(xue)(xue)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的所(suo)屬日、俄、亞太、拉美(mei)、西亞非等(deng)多個國(guo)際問(wen)題類(lei)研(yan)究所(suo)的辦公(gong)地(di)。1984年(nian)(nian)(nian),該建(jian)筑以“段(duan)祺瑞(rui)執政(zheng)(zheng)府(fu)(fu)舊址”名稱被(bei)列為(wei)北(bei)京(jing)市文(wen)物保(bao)護單位(wei)。2006年(nian)(nian)(nian)5月被(bei)國(guo)務(wu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)定為(wei)第(di)六(liu)批全國(guo)文(wen)物保(bao)護單位(wei)。同時更名為(wei)“清(qing)陸(lu)軍(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)和海軍(jun)(jun)部(bu)(bu)(bu)舊址”。