[2] The settlement lies on the northern shore of Ward Cove, at the southwestern end of Revillagigedo Island, 41⁄2 mi (71⁄4 km) northwest of Ketchikan.

The pier went into operation in August 2021 as restrictions on cruise ships as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic began to ease.

Norwegian Cruise Line invested in the project which is called the Mill at Ward Cove, and has priority docking rights there.

In 1940, the census bureau listed all settlements outside of the incorporated cities of Ketchikan and Saxman that could be reached by road on Revillagigedo Island as "Tongass Highway System", which had 494 residents.

In 1980, Ward Cove along with 6 other locales (Mud Bay, Peninsula Point, Port Higgins, Refuge Cove, Shoreline Drive & Tongass Highway System) were placed into the newly created census-designated place (CDP) of "North Tongass Highway", which had 1,722 residents.