Did you know that the Vasa Museum is the most visited museum in Scandinavia? It is one of the must-see places when visiting Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.
This is where you can experience a part of Swedish history and get a closer look at the world-famous authentic 17th century warship – the Vasa.
Background
The Vasa ship sank near the Stockholm harbor during its maiden voyage on 10 August 1628, and was recorded to have the shortest maiden voyage in history. She laid at the bottom of the sea for 333 years before being salvaged from the seabed in 1961.
After many months of excavation by a team of archaeologists, they recovered more than 30,000 fascinating objects, which gave them a glimpse into what life might have been like aboard this Swedish warship.
Learn more about the history of this 17th century warship and why it was a disastrous failure.
The Vasa Ship
It took nearly thirty years to restore the Vasa, and today more than ninety-five percent of the warship has been restored to its original glory.
The Vasa is about sixty-nine meters long and is ornately detailed with hundreds of wooden carved sculptures, thus making her a notably enormous artistic treasure.
The wooden gridwork along the deck provided air and light to the interior of the ship.
The capstan on the upper deck of the Vasa was primarily used for hoisting the sails of the foremast.
The Vasa Museum
Opened in 1990, the Vasa Museum is on the island of Djurgården in Stockholm. There are seven floors in this building where you can wander around each floor to get a different view of the massive ship.
There are also many exhibitions for you to dive into the history of the Vasa, discover the collection of findings, and learn more about the museum’s research.
I visited Stockholm in 2013 and spent one day at the Vasa Museum admiring what is now known as the best-preserved 17th century ship in the world.
After watching the screened film twice to learn everything from the history to the unfortunate maiden voyage, from the salvage to the ongoing archaeological work, and how the ship was transported into the museum, my mind was blown away.
Remember to include the Vasa Museum in your itinerary when you visit Stockholm. I am sure you will be impressed!
I Want to Hear from You!
Have you visited the Vasa Museum? When did you go and what was your experience like? Or what other museums in Sweden have you visited and would like to recommend? Share in the comments below.
Where Jasz Explores 
The Vasa and its museum are incredible.
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