1492-December-06: Christopher Columbus discovered the western end of the island during his first voyage and named the entire landmass Hispaniola.

1492-December-06: Christopher Columbus discovered the western end of the island during his first voyage and named the entire landmass Hispaniola. Rayford W. Logan notes that the specific geography and climate of this region largely determined the subsequent history of both Saint-Domingue and Haiti. This western portion of the island is geographically closer to the United States than any other Caribbean island with the exception of Cuba. The peninsula containing Môle St. Nicolas projects directly into the Windward Passage, a strategic maritime route for global commerce and naval warfare. Logan argues that these environmental and locational factors laid the groundwork for the island’s unique role in Atlantic diplomacy.