Karl Friedrich Schinkel designed the monument. Christian Friedrich Tieck created the bronze portrait of the great poet. A plaque in the pediment of the memorial quotes the final line of Klopstock's ode "My little forest" in a slightly modified form. In 1778 the poet sent them as a thank you to the Counts Holck, who lived near Kiel, when they gave him their favorite place to stay, a little oak grove.