Stearns Wharf facts for kids
Stearns Wharf is a long pier located in the harbor of Santa Barbara, California, United States. It sits at the end of State Street. When it was finished in 1872, it became the longest pier with deep water access between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The pier is named after its builder, John P. Stearns, who was a local lumberman. For over 25 years, the wharf helped ships carry passengers and goods along California's South Coast. Before the wharf was built, people and cargo had to be rowed to shore through ocean waves and seaweed. The wharf made things much easier.
Even with the wharf, Santa Barbara's harbor still needed a protective wall called a breakwater. In December 1878, big storms destroyed over 1,000 feet of the wharf. It took another 52 years for Santa Barbara to finally get its breakwater.
The Railroad Arrives
When the railroad reached Santa Barbara in 1877, John P. Stearns added a special track, or "spur," to the wharf. This track connected the pier to his lumberyard and the nearby Southern Pacific Depot. It was a very important link for moving goods.
However, severe storms in the early 1900s damaged this railroad spur. It was finally stopped being used in 1923.
From Shipping to Fun
In 1941, the Harbor Restaurant was built on the wharf. This marked the end of the pier's main use for shipping and transportation. The restaurant became very important for the wharf's economy.
Since it was built, Stearns Wharf has faced many challenges. These include natural disasters and economic problems. A big earthquake in 1925 caused damage. Then, a fire in 1973 forced the wharf to close completely. It stayed closed for six years until repairs were finished in 1981.
Another fire happened in the winter of 1998. This fire badly damaged the last 150 feet of the wharf, including the Moby Dick Restaurant. While the rest of the wharf stayed open, rebuilding this section took over two years.
Today, Stearns Wharf is Santa Barbara's most visited landmark.
Fun Things to Do Today
Currently, there are 17 different businesses on Stearns Wharf that are open to the public. You can find restaurants where you can eat, museums to explore, and shops to buy souvenirs. There's also an ice cream parlor and a candy store for sweet treats.
Images for kids
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Stearns Wharf
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Stearns Wharf
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Stearns Wharf
