Day 13 (cont.) - The Vasa Museum, Stockholm

First on our tour was the Vasa Museum, which houses the oldest and most complete warship. The Vasa sank fifteen minutes into her maiden voyage and sat at the bottom of the bay for almost 400 years. Our tour guide Aviva said that the British will claim they have the Mary Rose which sank the century before the Vasa, but the Mary Rose is only 45% original, whereas the Vasa is 95% original. The waters of the bay where the Vasa sank are brackish and the worm that eats wooden ships cannot survive. This is why the Vasa has been restored almost entirely intact.

A lighted display shows what the colors of the ship probably were. The Vasa wasn't planned to be used as a warship, rather a propoganda ship.

Although the Vasa was built properly, the cannons were placed too high in the ship. This caused it to be top heavy. A slight breeze toppled her over and she sank within 15 minutes.

The museum is kept dark, presumably to protect the ship.