The Cercle National des Armées originates in an order in Council of February 5, 1887 and in a law of April 16, 1924 authorizing its establishment on the setting of Pépinière barracks.

The Saint-Augustin Square building is due to the Palais Nationaux architect-in-chief Charles Lemaresquier, a member of the institute.

The statues surmounting the frontage columns are sculptors'works who were members of the institute: Injalbert for the "Turco", François Sicard for the "Poilu", Jean Boucher for the "Marin" and Paul Landowsky for the "Cuirassier".

The President of the Republic Gaston Doumergue inaugurated the building in 1928.