The stockholm ship yard describes how ships were built in the 1620s. Sweden’s largest shipyard at that time was worked by 400 people, probably the largest workplace in the country at the time.

The Vasa was the centre of all activity at Skeppsgården, the Stockholm shipyard, for two years. Skeppsgården was not only a shipyard but also the main station for the naval forces in a country that was constantly armed for war.

A model shows the intensive activity in the spring of 1627. Raised on her bed of supports the Vasa is almost ready to be launched. Woodworkers of all sorts dominate the work. One can make out sawyers, turners, platform makers and mast makers, carpenters, painters, sculptors, sail makers, rope makers, anchor smiths, blacksmiths, nail smiths, and a fine smith. The shipyard also employs a master glassworker, a tar-spreader and a nail bearer.

Other models are also included in this exhibition, such as the Vasa at different stages of construction. A series of images describe the art of shipbuilding from searching for suitable timber to applying the rigging. Shipbuilding was not a science as now but an art. A ship was built from accumulated experience.

The construction of the Vasa required thousands of oak trees. Her rig used almost twelve kilometres of rope.