Living on board a warship during the 17th century
The exhibition displays some of the thousands of objects that were found on the Vasa. Through these items, a picture emerges of what life on Vasa was like, what the crew ate and drank, how they dressed, their personal belongings, as well as the different duties on board and the diseases that affected ships during the 17th century.
There is also a cross-section model of the ship showing what it looked like inside and the activities of the crew on the different decks. Visitors can also enter a full-scale replica of the upper gun deck and the helm to experience how Vasa was steered. You can also look inside a copy of the great cabin to see how the senior officers on the ship lived.
The Vasa was constructed to accomodate some 145 sailors and 300 soldiers. They were needed to quickly handle the rigging and cannons during a sea battle, but it also meant that the space was very crowded. This reminds us of the many ways in which life at sea during the 17th century was demanding and difficult.
