Service began on April 30, 1983. Its opening coincided with the completion of of rail south of
Gallery Place to
L'Enfant Plaza and across a bridge over the
Potomac River to the
Pentagon station. The station was originally named
Archives. In 1989, the WMATA Board of Directors voted to rename the station to '''Archives–Navy Mem'l
to recognize the nearby U.S. Navy Memorial. In 2004, it was renamed Archives–Navy Mem'l–Penn Quarter''', New signage was installed accordingly in 2005, following the 2004 renaming, and in late-spring 2012, following the late-2011 second renaming. There is a provision for a future second mezzanine at the south end of the station, with a knock-out panel visible on the station's south wall. From March 26, 2020, until June 28, 2020, this station was closed due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Between January 15 to January 21, 2021, this station was closed because of security concerns due to the
2020 Inauguration. From October 12, 2021, to October 14, 2021, Blue Line Trains temporarily served this station due to a Blue Line Train derailment near the Pentagon Station. ==Station layout==