Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara’s iconic Stearns Wharf is a structure that changed the face of Santa Barbara. One hundred and fifty years ago Santa Barbara was an isolated pueblo. There were no roads into town, there was no railroad. When John Stearns built the wharf in 1872 he not only opened the door to large-scale commerce and trade; he introduced Santa Barbara to the rest of the world.
Stearns Wharf Fun Facts:
• Before the wharf was built, lumber was thrown overboard and the buyers had to pick up their share off of the beach.
• Up until the wharf was built, buildings in town were almost exclusively made from brick and adobe.
• For a brief while, Stearns tried using Eucalyptus instead of Douglas Fir for pile replacement. The trial failed miserably.
• The wharf has had three major fires, been damaged by boats, and even lost a 100-foot section to a water spout.
• Stearns Wharf is 1,950 feet long and has an area of 3.8 acres and is supported by 2,307 piles.
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