The tower was built between 1493 and 1495 on the northwest side of the Kremlin wall, which runs along Alexander Garden, on the site of a corner tower that existed during the time of Dmitry Donskoy. Its appearance is an elongated quadrilateral, adorned with machicolations and a parapet with embrasures, preserving the original design with two flat vertical niches. In the 15th-16th centuries, dams were built near the tower on the Neglinnaya River. In the 1680s, the tower was completed with an open square base topped with a four-sided tent, on which there is a through observation tower with a small tent.

The interior space of the tower is divided into three tiers, covered with cylindrical vaults and connected by internal staircases. The tent is also divided into tiers with flat ceilings.

The modern name of the tower was acquired during the construction of the Arsenal building in the early 18th century. Previously, it was called the Faceted Tower due to its façade divided into facets. In 1821, during the creation of Alexander Garden, a recreational grotto was built at the foot of the tower according to the design of O.I. Bove.

The height of the tower is 38.9 meters.