MAGICAL MALLORCA!!: Stockholm - 7 Days in October - (Part 2 of 4)

After 2 years of construction, on August 10, 1628, 'Vasa'....a 64 gun warship, set sail on her maiden voyage. She travelled about 4,000 feet, then sank (in just minutes) in the Stockholm harbor before a large audience.

The ship was built too top heavy and the slightest gust of wind into the sails made it list severely. On the maiden voyage, the gun ports were left open. When the ship listed after a burst of wind, water poured in via the gun ports and pulled the ship under. 30 people died but there were several hundred on board for what was supposed to be a celebrated, short journey to a nearby dock.

There were many attempts to raise her after the sinking, but all failed. It wasn't until the 1950's that an archaeologist explored the feasibility of raising it using modern technology. Oddly enough, it took years to locate the ship! It was located in 1956 and finally raised in 1961....333 years after it sank.

All things considered, it was still in good condition, though many pieces fell apart due to the decomposition of iron bolts. Wooden parts that fell off the ship simply fell into the mud which ended up preserving them...some with the original paint and gild still showing. Human remains were also recovered including clothing and, in one case, hair, nails, and brain tissue. EWWW!!!!

Fast forward nearly 30 years during which time the ship was documented, preserved, and reconstructed to 98% original. A museum was built to house the Vasa in a climate controlled environment and opened to the public for viewing in 1990. Since then, about 35 million have visited the museum, considered to be one of the most popular tourist sites in Stockholm.

For me, I'm not normally interested in ships. But, the story behind this one, and the fact this was NOT a replica....it's the real thing....fascinated me.

Upon entering the museum, Scott and I watched a 20 minute video in a small theater which provided a lot of information and made the tour even more interesting as we walked about the exhibits and the exterior of the ship.

The ship is 200 ft long, 36 ft wide, and 66 ft tall (not including masts), and the hull about 1.5 feet thick. Imagine all of it inside a building!! It was so massive, it was hard to get good photos that really showed its size because I would have to stand far away. And, the lighting was dim, which I presume there's a reason for that.

Vasa was designed to carry 133 crew and 300 soldiers, but only when going out to battle. Still, that's nearly 450 mouths to feed, to bathe, to sleep, to pee and poop, etc.

The Vasa Museum

(image borrowed from the internets)

Though the public is not allowed on board, there are 6 gallery levels from which to view the ship from all angles and up close.

A scale model brings it down to size for the public to grasp.

The ship wasn't the only thing to see. On all levels of the museum were exhibits showcasing specific features, such as how they would have cooked, the canons, skeletal remains, etc.

This one shows the various types of canon balls. I thought it was always just a ball. But, there are types meant for destroying masts and rigging (chain), those for piercing the hull, and others for specific purposes. For some reason, I don't have a photo of the exhibit where they showed the damage inflicted upon a 1 1/2 ft thick hull by a special canon ball. It was ripped to shreds!!!

Detail of the stern (rear) of the ship.

From afar it reminds me of a crocodile jaw!

Yes, it's real.

Using hair, bones, and clothing that was found, they created what they believed this person looked like.

Even if you're not a ship enthusiast, the museum was stunning and awe-inspiring. I highly recommend reading the story on Wikipedia.

Read the Story Here

(maybe skip a few sections such as 'Historical Background' and 'Armament').

Also, the museum website has numerous films/videos documenting the process of lifting the ship, how they restored it, preservation techniques, etc. Many of them you can turn English subtitles on.

Choose a Video to Watch Here

Scott and I were duly impressed with the Vasa Museum!!! But, it was time for Scottie to head to the airport and, eventually, home in Tokyo. We took the tram to the central train station wear I tearfully said my adieus.

I still had half a day left to kill, so here's a few more places I checked out.

The Nordic Museum next door to the Vasa installation.