The ship was launched in Stockholm in 1628. The too thin, too tall Vasa sailed for less than 20 minutes when the wind caught her sails and toppled the cannon-laden warship. The Vasa sank almost immediately.
The Vasa stayed in the mud of the Stockholm harbor for over 300 years before she was raised in 1961. Not only was the ship perfectly preserved in the brackish water of the Baltic Sea, but over 12,000 artifacts were also recovered.
The Vasa Museum on the water's edge was specifically built to house the Vasa and its artifacts. The exterior is interesting, but just wait until you go inside.
