The Vasa Museum receives over one million visitors a year. This subjects the ship to a lot of strain and, as a result, world-leading research is being conducted at the museum in order to counteract this effect.

The museum’s new permanent “Preserve Vasa” exhibition describes the fight against the forces of nature that has been central to the history of Vasa ever since it sunk in 1628. What happened when she lay on the bottom of the sea? What happened when she was taken up? What does the future hold? What do the researchers say?

“In the exhibition, we explain about the chemical processes that are taking place in the ship and artefacts and we describe the complicated work involved in preserving a hull of Vasa’s calibre. For visitors looking for a general overview, there is a timeline that is sufficient in itself, but which is also linked to the rest of the exhibition. The timeline does not end, it simply fades out leaving space for future discoveries and measures,” explains Elin Harland, who produces the exhibition together with Pia Frände.