When Königsberg's most famous son – the philosopher Immanuel Kant – died in February 1804 at the age of 79, he was duly honoured by the city and buried inside Königsberg Cathedral together with other distinguished figures. In 1880 though, a small dedicated chapel was erected between the northeastern corner of the cathedral and the Albertina University (destroyed during WW2), where he had taught for so many years, and his remains were moved there.

In time, mainly owing to the declining condition of the chapel, plans were laid to replace it with a mausoleum and this was completed in 1924 based on Friedrich Lahrs' architectural design. Today the grand red-pillared structure is faced by a statue of Albrecht of Prussia, who founded the Albertina and was also buried in the cathedral, and continues to draw admirers.