The old main offices of the Finance Ministry were originally located in a large house that was almost in ruins, on Passos Avenue. In July 1934, the construction of a new central office building was authorized with the objective of bringing together all the bureaus of the ministry in Rio de Janeiro, which was the capital of Brazil at that time.

The location selected was the so-called Esplanada do Castelo, on a piece of land ceded by the city. The cornerstone was laid on October 3, 1938, to celebrate the 8th anniversary of the Revolution of 1930. The ceremony was presided over by then president of the republic Getúlio Vargas.

In November, 1943, the new Ministry of Finance central office building was inaugurated. The architectural style was neo-classical, a personal choice by the then Minister of Finance, Artur de Souza Costa. Construction was coordinated by a commission of engineers, architects and designers under the direction of engineer Ary Fontoura de Azambuja.

The main portico was built in Brazilian marble with Dorian-style columns 9.5 meters high. The granite vases which decorate the laterals each weigh around 10,000 kilos, an example of the grandeur of this historical building.