Among the exhibits of the Zelenogradsk Museum of Local Lore is a part of a sculpture of Frederick William IV, King of Prussia. It was discovered during roadworks in the Zelenogradsk District.

Frederick William IV of the House of Hohenzollern became King of Prussia in 1840. He was born in Berlin on October 15, 1795. His parents were King Frederick William III and Queen Louise, born Luise Auguste Wilhelmine Amalie, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Frederick William was the eldest son. His younger brother William I would later become the first king of a unified Germany. From his mentors, Frederick William learned to love the arts, sciences, and culture, be pious and skeptical of the ideals of the American and French Revolutions. Frederick William was a naturally talented person, an eloquent speaker, a person of a quick and restless mind and an anxious spirit. He admired the Middle Ages and was an ardent supporter of Karl Ludwig von Haller and Friedrich Julius Stahl. Being an emotional and energetic person, Frederick William was discontent with the slow pace of government affairs.

On November 29, 1823, Frederick William married Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria, daughter of King Maximilian I of Bavaria and Queen Karoline. On his accession to the throne on June 7, 1840, Frederick William IV relaxed the regulations regarding various branches of Christianity, gave more freedom to liberal thinkers, convened a united state parliament (Landtag), and later imposed a new constitution. Once he became king, Frederick lived in a constant state of excitement, restlessly looking for new projects to undertake, and soon brought a sense of confusion and anarchy to the country’s government. In 1857, Frederick William IV suffered a stroke. Due to the king’s deteriorating health, his brother William became regent of Prussia on October 7, 1858. Frederick William IV died in Potsdam on January 2, 1861.

In 1843, Frederick William IV visited Cranz. He was greatly impressed by it and awarded Cranz the status of a royal resort, which attracted a lot of investment for the town’s development. The popularity of Cranz increased significantly. This was promoted by the highway constructed upon the order of Frederick William.