The Vasa Museum: A Historical Shipwreck

The Vasa Museum, first opened in 1990, is one of the most visited museums in Scandinavia. Located on the island of Djurgården in Stockholm, the museum displays a Swedish ship that was salvaged from the bottom of the Stockholm Harbor after 333 years of sinking deeper into the mud and sand. On August 10, 1628, the Vasa set sail on its maiden voyage and unfortunately sank after it filled with water less than a mile out to sea. Most of the bronze cannons were retrieved during this time, but the location of the ship remained unknown until it was discovered in a busy shipping lane just outside the Stockholm Harbor. The ship was recovered in more or less one big piece thanks to the polluted water that was low in oxygen, as wood-attacking fungi and bacteria couldn’t survive in such conditions. After the Vasa was salvaged from the water, archaeologists spent 17 years restoring and preserving the ship, then an additional 9 years waiting for all of the water to evaporate out of the wood. During this time, one million pounds of water evaporated away, leaving 200,000 pounds of oak. After the long process of restoration was complete, the museum proudly features the Vasa, with 98% of the original ship still intact.

Figure 1: Vasa ship inside museum

The Vasa can be seen from four different levels, each one offering different views of the ship as well as focused exhibits on the design, people, and special features of the ship. The entrance level takes visitors to a mid-level view of the ship where the top half is visible. The gray museum walls enclose the Vasa quite snugly, which makes the 226-foot long ship look even larger.

In addition to the numerous interactive exhibits, there is great dedication to showcasing the care that went into crafting the Vasa in the early 17^th century. Majority of the ship’s hull (the main body), is covered in sculptures of Greek and Roman figures, as well as some remarkable creatures including mermaids, sea monsters, and lions. Many of the 500 total sculptures are featured in exhibits with their symbolism and significance, as the sculptures were designed to glorify Sweden’s authority, wisdom, and martial abilities while also taunting and intimidating the enemy.

Lions are a prominent recurring theme as King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden was called “The Lion of the North” and “The Golden King.” Two lions can be seen grasping the Swedish royal coat of arms on either side of the boat, as well as on the figurehead and on the inside of every gun port door. One statue in particular is of a soldier with a shield in one hand, and the other fist proudly in the air (Figure 2). A puppy curves around the base of the soldier’s legs to convey the idea that a ferocious lion would take pity on a puppy, just as the powerful King Gustavus Adolphus would take pity on a significantly weaker opponent. This sculpture illustrates that the king’s enemies are often so inferior, that they are not even worth battling. Almost all of the heroic imagery on the Vasa, including the fierce lions, are identified with the king to revere him as a powerful ruler.

Figure 2: Soldier and puppy sculpture

A 10-foot long lion is also placed as the figurehead of the Vasa, which is a wooden carving set at the prow of a ship. The lion’s body is stretched upward and looks as if it is mid-leap. The Vasa’s lion figurehead was so large, it was carved in several parts and fitted together with bolts. Figureheads are often related to the name or role of the ship, and are also believed to ward off evil spirits. Vasa’s lion figurehead holds the Vasa dynasty coat of arms in its front paws, as the lion has been a symbol of the Swedish monarchy since the Middle Ages. In addition, the museum has placed a replica of the figurehead in an exhibit so visitors can get a closer look at the details. This changes the perspective of onlookers, as a 10-foot lion on a 226-foot long ship seems quite proportional, but seeing this wooden lion on its own really confirms the magnitude of both the lion and the ship.

            Face to Face is an exhibit that is focused on some of the 145 sailors and 300 soldiers that sailed on the Vasa. This section offers powerful yet eerie replicas of Vasa’s passengers through 3D rendering using information from skeletons found on or around the ship. A short animation shows how archaeologists made conclusions about eye color, mouth shape, as well as muscle and fat composition based on a person’s skull. The animation first showed a skull, then progressively added more and more pieces of the face, layer by layer, until it was painted and completed with a head of hair. Each head came with a short description that included age range, signs of malnourishment, and their gender. This exhibit is particularly overwhelming, both because of the realistic heads, and because it encourages visitors to contemplate each and every one of the lives on that ship and the 50 or so that tragically died.

            The Vasa Museum offers a close-up look of the ship’s design, as well as the people and artifacts that also give great insight into what life was like in 17^th-century Sweden. With interactive exhibits, life-size replicas of specific rooms in the Vasa, and descriptions translated into almost 10 languages, the museum invites people of all ages from around the world to learn about the 17^th century ship. The museum has also worked to modernize the exhibits by including “Selfie Spots,” where the lighting and framing of the Vasa was specially composed, that many people made good use of (including myself). A visit to the Vasa museum is emotionally heavy and highly educational, while also conveying the significance of the Vasa, which has become a symbol of an important period in Swedish history.