Rio Bueno lies near the border between Trelawny and St. Ann. Its historical themes include a lithographic print from 1835, Fort Dundas and the Baptist Church on a hill overlooking the sea. There is also the disputed attribution that Christopher Columbus first landed here. These themes represent different ways of exploring Rio Bueno: an artistic depiction, architectural history, the location of a church and a historical interpretation also claimed by Discovery Bay.

A lithographic view of Rio Bueno

James Bartholomew Kidd created a lithographic print depicting Rio Bueno in 1835. The year dates the print, not the founding of the town. The depiction is therefore a cultural and historical reference point in its own right: it presents Rio Bueno as the subject of a work of art, while the history of Fort Dundas can be traced through its architectural features and name. Those interested in cultural history can distinguish this visual record from the information about the fort’s construction. The two dates have different roles: 1835 refers to the print, while 1778 is an indication of the fort’s approximate construction date.

Fort Dundas: Date and architectural history

The date 1778 is inscribed on a stone beside the arched entrance to Fort Dundas. It suggests that the fort was built around that time; it is an approximate date, not an exact year of construction. After it was incorporated into the fortifications, the fort was named in honor of Henry Dundas, the British Secretary at War. The loopholes in the walls are also part of its architectural history.

Loopholes are openings in walls used for firing weapons. They make the fort’s defensive function part of its architectural interest. Along with the arched entrance and the date, they offer another concrete way to understand Fort Dundas through its design.

Baptist Church with sea views

Rio Bueno’s Baptist Church stands on a hill overlooking the sea. This gives it a different emphasis from Fort Dundas: the church is notable for its location, while the fort is defined by its architectural history and name. If you distinguish cultural sites by their character, this contrast offers two different perspectives on Rio Bueno—one architectural and historical, the other shaped by the landscape.

A disputed attribution to Columbus

The claim that Christopher Columbus first landed here remains disputed: Discovery Bay also lays claim to this attribution. Both aspects should be considered when assessing the claim. Rio Bueno is therefore regarded as a possible first landing site, but not as a confirmed or exclusive one. Refer to it as a purported landing and take Discovery Bay’s competing claim into account. Unlike the fort’s architectural features, this is a historical interpretation associated with two places.

Discover more destinations: Falmouth, Salt Marsh, Duncans, Florence Hall Village.

Return to the main travel guide: Trelawny Parish.