Apgar Village is named for Milo Apgar, an early settler who came to Lake McDonald in the 1890s with the intention of farming. In time, Apgar and other homesteaders realized tourism made for better business, and began catering to visiting tourists.

Today, Apgar Village remains an important and busy stop along Going-to-the-Sun Road—home to the wilderness permit office, the Apgar Nature Center and a boat launch, along with boat and bike rentals, various gift stores, and a convenience store / restaurant. 

The foot of Lake McDonald, where Apgar Village sits, is an important place for indigenous communities like the Kootenai, and has been for thousands of years.