Matia Island - History

History

Matia was named in 1792 by the Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza as Isla de Mata, meaning "no protection". Matia is correctly pronounced "Ma-TEE-ah", but is more often called "May-shah" by the locals. Matia also has several meanings in Spanish having to do with lush plant growth.

Matia Island was established as " . . . a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife" in 1937 and became a National Wildlife Refuge in 1940. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (formerly the U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife) and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission entered into a cooperative management agreement in June 1959 to use a small portion of the island (2 acres (0.81 ha) around Rolfe Cove) as a State Marine Park and campground in response to uncontrolled use by the public with the proliferation of private boats in the years following World War II.

In 1976, all but the 2-acre (0.81 ha) State Marine Park was designated as Wilderness under the Wilderness Act of 1964. Island visitors may access a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) loop trail through the wilderness portion of the island which is otherwise closed to the public to provide undisturbed habitat for wildlife. Visitors are required to stay on the trail and are not allowed to access other areas from the trail. The wilderness trail offers a unique glimpse of protected old growth island forest habitat present in only a few places in the region.