The Gare d'Orsay was opened in 1900 by the Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans (Paris–Orléans Railway, PO) as a mainline railway station for the 1900 Exposition Universelle.

The line made use of the new technology at the time, 550 V DC third rail electric traction, and it was constructed in a 1 km (0.62 mi) cut-and-cover tunnel along the left bank of the Seine from Austerlitz to the Quai d'Orsay.

Orsay station fell into disuse and lay derelict for many years.

On 17 October 1995, Musée d'Orsay station was subjected to a terrorist attack during the 1995 France bombings, when a gas bottle exploded between Musée d'Orsay and Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame station, wounding 29 people.

[6] Assemblée Nationale and Solférino on Paris Métro Line 12 are both within walking distance.