Stearn's Wharf is a great place to enjoy the sunset and just play tourist for an afternoon. But there is also a lot of history here. Stearn's Wharf is California's oldest working wharf. Built in 1872 the wharf served both passenger and freight traffic before the railroad reached Santa Barbara in 1877. The transition to the wharf we know today has taken many years, but one thing remains true. Stearn's Wharf remains a local landmark and a unique part of Santa Barbara.