In the exhibition "Preserve Vasa," visitors can follow the ongoing struggle to preserve the ship for the future. For 333 years, Vasa lay in the murky waters of Stockholm's harbor before being salvaged in 1961 and beginning its era as a museum artifact, a transformation that has presented significant challenges.
After years in the water, Vasa was attacked by bacteria and corrosion from iron objects that had spread throughout the hull. This initiated a slow degradation of the ship, a process driven by many factors and one that continues to this day.
Preserving Vasa for the future is an ongoing effort with many significant challenges. The exhibition tells the story of the high-tech battle against the forces of nature and everything Vasa has endured since the ship sank in 1628, all of which affects its preservation. What happened on the seabed? What happened when the ship was lifted out of the water after more than 300 years? What does the future hold, and what do the researchers say? In the exhibition, you can follow a timeline that illustrates the work of research and preservation. This timeline has no end but fades out, leaving room for new discoveries and measures in the future.
