[4] The station was constructed in open cut as part of the enlargement of Saint Helen's Island to host Expo 67.

[8] The station now serves the various attractions on Saint Helen's Island and Notre Dame Island - including Jean-Drapeau Park, the La Ronde amusement park and the Montreal Casino, as well as events like the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

In May 2001,[a] the station was renamed Jean-Drapeau after Jean Drapeau, mayor of Montreal from 1954 to 1957 and 1960 to 1986, who is often given credit for the construction of the Metro, and for securing both Expo 67 and the 1976 Summer Olympics.

[14] In 1997, the operator of the Lisbon Metro gifted a granite sculpture by Portuguese artist João Charters de Almeida [pt] to the STM, to commemorate 30 years since the opening of the Montreal Metro and Expo 67, as well as the Portuguese community in the city.

The artwork was installed instead in Parc Jean-Drapeau, located close to the station on Île Sainte-Hélène.