Abstract The Caribbean region has been an attractive area of the world since Columbus rediscovered it in 1492. In colonial times the Caribbean was an area of settlement, economic exploitation, and intense competition between the powerful nations of Spain, England, France, and Holland. Geological interest in the region, in a sense, started with the search for gold, silver, and precious stones, and the quest for the sources of the El Dorado legend. Many accounts of exploration during the conquest not only mention fabulous mines but also describe volcanoes, thermal springs, and the effects of earthquakes. It was only natural that in the initial days of modern geology the region should be intriguing to earth scientists. Thus, geologic accounts appear in the writings of such naturalists as von Humboldt, Karsten, De La Beche, Montessus de Ballore, and others. Within a global context, the first attempt to portray the geology of the region was by Suess in 1885. In the early part of the 20th century, scientific interest, and the construction of the Panama Canal and exploration for oil greatly advanced geologic knowledge of the region. Many European scientists worked in the Caribbean during their Wanderjahren. Much of this knowledge was masterfully summarized by Schuchert (1935), and for the Central American part by Sapper (1937). Until that time, scientific contributions were mostly by geologists residing in countries outside the region; only a few indigenous geologists conducted Caribbean research, but some of their contributions were outstanding. Long-range scientific programs were initiated shortly before World War II by Utrecht and Princeton Universities, but the work of both institutions was interrupted during the war years.