The Vasa, Vasa Museum

Today, it takes a great effort to save and bring a historically noteworthy shipwreck to the public's attention. One of Sweden's top tourist locations, the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, is home to one of the best examples. The Vasa, a custom-built warship for King Gustav Adolphus, sank in 1628 on its maiden trip after being blown onto its side by a gale of wind just 4,265 feet (1,300 meters) into the expedition.

The ship swamped and sank into the shallow waters of Stockholm's port, where it remained for 328 years before being rediscovered in 1956. The Vasa underwent a painstaking and thorough cleaning procedure over the course of the following 29 years, and was gradually brought back to its former splendor. The museum was inaugurated in 1990 in recognition of the significant Swedish symbol.

• Country: Sweden