A small one-story pavilion of octagonal shape was built in 1784-1785 by court architect Bazhenov. In his drawings, he referred to the First and Second Cavalry Corps as "small houses." In the explanation to the General Plan, one of them is designated as "House for Waiters," and the other as "House of Unclear" (that is, without specific functions). The name "Cavalry Corps" appeared in 1947 during the passportization of the Tsaritsyno ensemble.

The layout of the pavilion, known as the "Octagon," is unique. The rooms are connected not only to the central part but also to each other through corner spaces. Each block can be isolated, as it has both internal and external doors. The building is suitable for accommodating court officials of various ranks.

Like other palace buildings, the pavilion is made of red brick, and the white stone decor emphasizes important architectural elements: the plinth, cornice, and high pointed windows.

In 1785, Catherine II removed Bazhenov from the works due to dissatisfaction with the construction, and after her death in 1796, the construction of the residence in Tsaritsyno ceased. For 200 years, the building of the Second Cavalry Corps was not used and gradually fell into ruin.

By the end of the 19th century, Tsaritsyno had become a prestigious dacha settlement, and some palace buildings were rented out as summer houses. However, the building was unfortunate: in 1886, the "Inventory of the Tsaritsyno Palace" recorded its deplorable condition. The cornice and columns of white stone were damaged, the house remained without a roof and vaults, and the walls were crumbling.

In the mid-1920s, the Tsaritsyno ensemble came under the jurisdiction of Glavkniga. In 1927, to mark the tenth anniversary of the October Revolution, the Lenin (Tsaritsyno) local history museum opened here, and part of the buildings were occupied by communal apartments. In 1929, attempts were made to adapt the "Octagon" building for a district bathhouse, but museum director Tikhomirov managed to defend it. Nevertheless, in 1932, the internal walls of the corps were dismantled, and the bricks were used for household needs.

By the early 1980s, the building had turned into ruins. However, in 1984, large-scale restoration work began, which lasted for ten years. The "Soyuzrestavratsiya" workshop and other organizations restored the internal walls, roof, and lost fragments of masonry and decor. The interior finishing was completed.

In 1994, the first exhibition opened in the Second Cavalry Corps, introducing visitors to the main art collections of the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve.