- Organized and Federally recognized 5 February 1924 in the District of Columbia National Guard at Washington, D.C., as the Band Section, Headquarters and Service Company, 121st Engineers, an element of the 29th Division
- Reorganized and redesignated 15 May 1940 as the Band, 121st Engineers
- Inducted into Federal service 3 February 1941 at Washington, D.C.
- Reorganized and redesignated 12 March 1942 as the Band, 135th Engineers, and relieved from assignment to the 29th Division
- Inactivated 31 May 1943 at Fort Read, Trinidad, British West Indies
- Consolidated 3 March 1947 with the 257th Army Ground Forces Band (see ANNEX) and consolidated unit designated as the 257th Army Ground Forces Band; concurrently, reorganized and Federally recognized at Washington, D.C.
- Redesignated 17 May 1947 as the 257th Army Band
- Consolidated 1 March 1959 with the 91st Army Band (organized and Federally recognized 23 November 1953 at Washington, D.C.) and consolidated unit designated as the 257th Army Band
- Ordered into active Federal service 5 April 1968 at Washington, D.C.; released from active Federal service 16 April 1968 and reverted to District of Columbia control
ANNEX
- Organized and Federally recognized 12 January 1939 in the District of Columbia National Guard at Washington, D.C., as the Band Section, Service Battery, 260th Coast Artillery
- Reorganized and redesignated 1 January 1940 as the Band, 260th Coast Artillery
- Inducted into Federal service 6 January 1941 at Washington, D.C.
- Reorganized and redesignated 10 December 1943 as the 257th Army Band
- Reorganized and redesignated 23 May 1944 as the 257th Army Ground Forces Band
- Inactivated 25 May 1946 on Adak Island, Alaska
HOME STATION: Washington, D.C