The entire site was formerly the garden of the original Trocadéro Palace, laid out by Adolphe Alphand for the 1878 Exposition Universelle.

The present garden has an area of 93,930 m2, and was created for the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne (1937).

During the exposition in 1937, the pavilions of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union were facing each other on opposite sides of the Jardins du Trocadéro.

In 2011, the fountain's waterworks were completely renovated and a modern pumping system was installed.

With sloping fairways that run along the river, the garden terraces feature a number of sculptures, some dating from the 1930s, including: The location is near the metro station Trocadéro, at 48°51′39″N 2°17′24″E / 48.86083°N 2.29000°E / 48.86083; 2.29000, on the lines 6 and 9.