The protected harbor with its 850 foot high El Morro landmark, became a flourishing port for sailing ships from many European nations, and the town prospered until 1605, when the Governor in Santo Domingo, envious of its success, arrested the entire population and burned the town to the ground and moved the inhabitants to a desolate area, away from the coast, on the other side of the island - which, in turn, resulted in an economic collapse for the country. Without the convenient port of Monte Cristi, the trading ships went elsewhere.

In defiance of Governor Osorio, the inhabitants returned to Monte Cristi, rebuilt their port and town and resumed trading, and - in spite of many hardships and battles with pirates and with their French neighbors, they regained their trade and prospered, until finally in 1756, the Spanish crown recognized the value of the port and its people, and officially founded it as a town: "San Fernando de Monte Cristi," and made it an open port with exoneration of all custom duties for ten years. Trade prospered and so began the growth of the modern Monte Cristi.

The "Museo de Monte Cristi", with free admission for all, covers the period from the earliest geology up to this time of the official Founding of the town. Exhibits show the culture of the original Tainos, and the artifacts from the many shipwrecks in the area show the trade goods and lifestyle of the early settlers.

The history of Monte Cristi is a capsule history of the early Caribbean, with struggles to survive, battles, a population of mixed nationalities, free slaves, pirates, religious faith, courage, heroes, heroines, and a lot of determination. The non-profit Museo y Centro Cultural de Monte Cristi is dedicated to making public this history as a source of civic pride and an inspiration to all.