Vasa - Sinking, Wreck and Salvage (Part 2)

This video series would not have been possible without the wonderful assistance of Dr Fred Hocker and the Vasa Museum.

Today we start to look at the famous Swedish warship Vasa, continuing with what happened as she sank, how the wreck was identified and recovered, and some of what was found aboard.

In later videos we will look at more closely at her crew, decoration and equipment.

Sources:
Dr Fred Hocker - Director of Research, Vasa Museum

[gustavchambert]

I can attest to the experience of seeing the ship. There is only one word for it really, Majestic.
I brought my fiancé there early in our relationship. She's not at all interested in history, and also not originally from sweden, so she did not know what to expect (she was expecting a viking ship and was secretly very confused as to why I was so enthusiastic about something so unimpressive xD). It was mid November, below freezing (-11°C), windy and snowing. We took the train to Stockholm and walked from the station, about 30 minutes I think. She was pretty annoyed with me, and I was worried I'd fucked up badly (we were only about six months in).
We arrive at the museum and get our tickets, and then we enter through the first set of doors, and I can feel the mood change. Then we enter through the second set, and my fiancé just stops. She stands there, just looking, mouth actually a little open, for a very, very long moment.
The hall of the museum is immense, the size and height of a medium-size arena, but cast mostly in darkness, with deep shadows looming in the corners and under the rafters, creating an almost oppressive feeling when the museum is empty of visitors.
The ship looms out of the darkness in the center of the hall like an ancient, eldritch shadow, brightly lit from above. Leading with the curved prow and broken bowsprit, as if still sailing, with the broken masts perched under the shadows of the ceiling above.. She is elegant and imposing, massive but sleek. Ancient and worn but proud and full of the weight of history.
She is a ghost ship, a whisper and a memory of an age long past, but so present and so tangible that the hall is full of the slightly sour, musky scent of ancient oak.

Needless to say my fiancé was completely blown away, and that day is a cherished memory for us both.

For anyone who has read this far and has never been to the museum: Go if you ever have the chance, it really is a sight to behold.
It is really best seen in the off season in the middle of the day. When the museum is empty there is a sort of strange power in the air, a somber, dignified silence like that of a cathedral, that naturally makes one speak in hushed tones and half-whispers, lest one disturb the sleeping lady or offend the ghosts of those for whom she became a tomb.

[hisdadjames]

Met a Swede the other day and she was astounded by my intimate knowledge of the Vasa. I now bathe in Drach’s reflected glory🤣

[KhabarovVictor]

Vasamuseet is one of the best museums I ever seen in my life and certainly the most impressive. It was unforgettable voyage in time and I'm really glad I had a chance to take it.

[augustosolari]

This man knows a lot and is so articulate. Hearing him is such delight.

[sdivico]

I visited the Vasa museum this late summer. I was just in awe when I entered through the 3 doors and lay my eyes on the ship for the first time. I got to see lots of historical places and museums over the years but the Vasa is simply on another level. The extensive well presented knowledge of Dr. Fred Hocker in these videos/interviews matches exactly what you can expect of a visit of the museum. A must see if you ever get to Stockholm.

[kaibroeking]

This interview you conducted there is a true delight to watch:
Both your questions and Dr. Hocker's eloquence and expertise make this a rare treat!

[jehl]

Wow Drach! You have really raised this channel to a new level with this VASA series. Hopefully you'll be able to visit the USS Constitution, The Bremen Cog and others like maybe a Viking ship and do similar series one day. Your level of interest and understanding of the subject allows you to ask insightful questions that most of us wouldn't think of asking. Keep up the excellent work!

[barleysixseventwo]

“Okay, Guys, I know this looks bad, but trust me! In 400 years, Sweden WILL thank us for this!”

-Swedish shipwright, moments after watching the ship he just built tip over.

[Paveway-chan]

Vasa hasn’t been sunk, it’s undergone a submarine conversion.

- Swedish admiralty

[SirDamned]

"The ship is not lost, it is just considered underwater." ah yes quite..

[delurkor]

The first I heard of the Vasa was an article in National Geographic in the late 60's or early 70's. Interesting to see the progress of preservation. Thank you sir, for this series,

[ksytsmarealyo]

This is incredible. We, as a human civilization, have never had more access to more of our own history and yet been so willfully ignorant of it, generally speaking. Thank you for taking this time and posting this!!

Yes Drach, we have enjoyed it very much :) I was especially suprised to hear how much of a time capsul Vasa was regarding ordinary swedish peopel. Also having "conscripts from the land" manning the ships sounds like an interesting topic for a Video.

[comrademcsalty]

41:59
Dr Hocker: "He had something else on when the ship sank."
Me: "Allegedly."

[sergarlantyrell]

When the Sweedish admiralty said to put Vasa in deep reserve, her captain took them a little too literally...

[Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

This interview is probably the closest I'll ever get to visiting the museum.

[kebabsvein]

What a wonderfully knowledgable and fantastic museum curator and historian! He probably gets the questions you asked, asked to him many many times during the year and he is still able to answer with enthusiasm! I need to go there again. My parents told me they visited the museum when I was 2 or 3 years old.

[Simon-owtd]

I was awestruck by the ship the first time I visited as a kid. I walked away with several books and trinkets from the gift shop and still remember pestering my parents with facts from a very nice illustrated book about the ship.

This museum and a few other close by are on my short list for a trip once the pandemic is over.

[ELCADAROSA]

I've watched both parts and am finding this quite interesting! Dr. Hocker is well spoken (as is our esteemed host, of course!).
Looking forward to the next two parts! Well done, Drach!

[Juppe]

I'm a Stockholmer and the Vasa museum is my favourite museum to which I've been at least twenty times. The first time when I was a child when the ship was in it's preservation stage, and latest with my five year old granddaughter. She also loved it and asked me the other day if we could go back again. I urge you all to make a visit if at all possible.