Sinking of the Vasa

I will add my voice to others in the comments, and say that if you find yourself in Stockholm, the Vasa Museum is an absolute “must see.” Not just a fascinating story, but a really well organized and informative museum.

You forgot 1 important thing about the 1961 lifting of the Vasa. Some Finnish pranksters had heard about the project to lift the ship up. They were going for a trip to Sweden anyway, so they decided to prank the Swedish researchers by diving a bronze statue of the Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi to the ship's deck. The area of the ship had been marked as a "military area" for the time of the lifting of the ship. the pranksters got by the military with a press card (one of the pranksters was a journalist). They dove to the ship, left statue on the deck and left. When the ship was lifted, the Swedish historians were amazed by the statue. Some thought it might be the statue of Hermes, the messenger / runner of the Gods from Greek Mythology. After the pranksters Swedish tourist trip was over, they held a press conference in Stockholm, informing the public that the statue is of the Finnish runner. (And that they chose his statue, because his olympic career ended when the Swedes called him a professional before his last olympics, and he was kicked out.)

I took my 8 year old niece to the Vasa Museum this year. I wish I had a photo of her face as she pushed open the heavy door to the museum and was met by the sight of the HUGE ship towering above her. Even as an adult it's an amazing sight it always gets to me when I visit the museum.

King Gustav II: "I want a ship that will trumpet my greatness for centuries after I am gone." Ship Builders: "You got it."

I am 68 now, but when I was 7 years old my father sat in the red chair in our parlor and proceeded to read out of the National Geographic Picture Book, titled Men Ships and the Sea. It was a sea tail about the Great Ship Vasa. He died 2 years later and it is the only time I remember him reading to me. Thanks for the story. Happy Trails

I was on a cruise and went on a shore excursion to the Vasa museum in 2019. It was fabulous. My only regret is that we were only able to spend a few hours there. It is worth a whole day.

I had the pleasure to visit the museum where the Vasa is. I can tell you , as an amateur-amateur historians, I was completely overwhelmed in hearing this story for the first time and having the ship 2 feet away from me! Great episode Lance!!

My wife and I visited the Vasa museum last May; intending to spend only a couple of hours, we were surprised that we had managed to use over 4. The ship and the story of her recovery , preservation and the wealth to artifacts recovered, including about 25% of her sails make a visit an absolute must.

I saw the Vasa when I was in Stockholm about 10 years ago. At the time I'd never heard of the ship, for me it was just a visit to a museum to fill in an otherwise empty afternoon, but ended up being a fascinating few hours. I couldn't believe that the ship had spent 100s of years submerged. I've seen wooden ships of similar age recovered from the water with maybe a third of the substance left over. According to the early 1960s video footage documenting the recovery of the Vasa it actually floated to its berth without any support. The information panels in the museum seem to give the king the blame for the sinking of the ship. Allegedly during construction he kept asking for changes making the ship larger, heavier and with more cannon ports which the shipwrights dared not refuse.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Vasa museum a few summers ago, it was simply amazing... there is no other word for it.

Possibly the most favorite European site destination, but I have never heard of her. THG scores again and keeps this follower coming back.

I have been to the museum back in the 70's and it was impressive then, I would love to see it again. You did not mention the innovative preservation techniques that they have developed over the years since she was brought back up. When I saw her, they were still spraying her down with sea water, now they use a special chemical blend that will not destroy the iron fittings. Also, much of the preservation is paid for through the proceeds of Wasa Bread here in the USA. I also got to visit the Oslo Maritime Museum and the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo Norway, and I would love to see you do a video on those.

I think it is typical for us Swedes to fail at something and then build a museum to show that failure. But the good part is that are learning something from that failure. Or at least I hope so...

A tall wooden war Ship with sails full of wing is l think one of the most beautiful to behold......Thank THG🎀...Bye:person-turqouise-waving:

I went to see the Vasa in her museum as a child in 1963. I remember my Dad telling the story of how she set sail and immediately sank. It is well worth the visit if you're ever in Stockholm.

I've seen the Vasa it is amazing

In High School (1973-ish) I read a story in an old (1961) National Geographic magazine about the raising and steps being taken to preserve and eventually put the Vasa in its own museum! In the back of my my mind, I guess I always wondered how it came out!

The ship,that never should have been, is the only one to still be. Awesome history.

During construction both *Swedish feet* (of 29.69 cm) and *Amsterdam feet* (of 28.31 cm) were in use by different teams. Four rulers used by the workmen who built the ship have been found; two were calibrated in Swedish feet, of 12 Swedish inches, and the other two were calibrated in Amsterdam feet, of 11 Amsterdam inches. The use of different units of length on the two sides of the vessel caused the ship to be heavier on the port side. Metric ftw

I was able to see the Vasa during a trip to Sweden. Very impressive museum and achievement in recovering the ship.