Volta
Exploration25 December 1492

Wreck of the Santa María and La Navidad

Early on Christmas Day 1492 the Santa María ran aground off Hispaniola. Columbus built the fort of La Navidad from her timbers and left 39 men; when he returned the next year all were dead.

Columbus landing on Hispaniola in December 1492, greeted by the Taíno — 19th-century print
Columbus landing on Hispaniola in December 1492, greeted by the Taíno — 19th-century print

Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress · Public domain · Source

After landing at San Salvador Columbus followed the coast of Cuba, believing it to be the edge of Asia, and then reached the large island of Hispaniola. On the night of 24 December, with a ship’s boy at the helm, the Santa María struck a reef. The local Taíno chief Guacanagarí sent men and canoes to help unload her.

Unable to take everyone home, Columbus built a fort from the Santa María’s timbers, named it La Navidad for Christmas, and left 39 men — the first European outpost in the Americas. When he returned on his second voyage in November 1493 the fort had been burned and every man was dead; they are said to have quarrelled over gold and women and been attacked by another chief, Caonabo.

Show on the map

The map in 1492

Open the full map

OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors

States at the time
Spain
Places
La Navidad

People

  • Christopher Columbus1451 – 1506

    commander · Genoese navigator who, sponsored by Spain, crossed the Atlantic and reached the Americas in 1492

  • Guacanagarí

    related figure · Taíno chief (cacique) of Marién in northwest Hispaniola who helped Columbus when the Santa María was wrecked in 1492

Before and after

Earlier
1492 Columbus Sails from Palos
Later
1493 Columbus’s Return and Reception at Barcelona