 Chief Klue of Tanu escorted a James Poole to the site in 1863 and extolled the value of the "miracle waters" in spite of fears by other Haida of "the Island of Fire".The name "Hotspring Island" was conferred by George M. Dawson when he went ashore there in 1878.Due to a 7.8 magnitude earthquake on October 27, 2012, the hot spring has stopped flowing and is dry as of November 2012.