La Navidad

The Dave Bowman Show

Today the Dave Does History team takes you back to Christmas Day, 1492, when Christopher Columbus’s flagship, the Santa María, ran aground off the coast of Hispaniola. What began as a navigational mistake turned into the construction of La Navidad, the first European settlement in the Americas. But this wasn’t the triumph Columbus envisioned. Within a year, the settlement was reduced to ashes, leaving behind a tale of ambition, greed, and cultural collision. Join us as we unravel the dramatic story of the Santa María’s wreck, the fort built from her remains, and the tragic downfall of La Navidad. We’ll explore the historical search for its lost location and reflect on the legacy of this forgotten outpost. Packed with vivid details and fascinating insights, this episode dives into a pivotal yet often overlooked moment in history. Tune in and discover how one shipwreck shaped the course of the New World!