The first European settlement established by Columbus on Hispaniola was La Navidad. Columbus founded it in December 1492 after the Santa María ran aground on Christmas Eve near the island’s northern coast.
Because the ship could not be salvaged, Columbus ordered its timbers reused to build a small fort and settlement. He named the site La Navidad, meaning “The Nativity,” in reference to Christmas. With assistance from the Taíno leader Guacanagarí, Columbus left a garrison behind when he sailed back to Spain aboard the Niña.
La Navidad was short-lived. When Columbus returned during his second voyage in November 1493, the settlement had been destroyed and its men were dead. He did not rebuild it, instead founding La Isabela farther east. That settlement is often confused with La Navidad: La Isabela was the first planned European town in the Americas, while La Navidad was the earlier fort and settlement created from the wreck of the Santa María. Santo Domingo came later and became the first lasting capital.