Due to its location, the island has been used as the starting point for a number of attempts to reach the North Pole, e.g. Ralph Plaisted and others.

Since 1998, a modern research station owned and operated by the Centre d'Études Nordiques (CEN: Centre for northern studies) of Laval University, Quebec and Parks Canada also exists on the north coast with an automatic climatic station open all year round.

[2][3] In addition to accommodation, the CEN base camp also has a small laboratory for the multidisciplinary fieldwork carried out during the three summer months.

The data obtained on the climate, flora and fauna cover a period of more than 20 years and have been accessible since the beginning of the measurements.

[4] In July 2016, a team of scientists with the Canadian Armed Forces while conducting a site visit of Eureka, Tanquary Fiord, and Ward Hunt Island found a cairn erected in 1975 by then Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, who had been accompanied by two of his sons, Justin and Alexandre Trudeau.