Empire Grade, which begins at Western Drive in Santa Cruz, got its name from the Empire Mining Co. that used the route. According to Robert W. Piwarzyk in his article "The Roads of Bonny Doon" on the Santa Cruz Public Libraries website, Empire Mining operated during the 1850s and the road was constructed in 1872 "up Ben Lomond Mountain on the ridgeline between the Coast Road and the San Lorenzo valley. Unlike the present road which ends at Eagle Rock and the Lockheed facility at the summit, about 21 miles from Santa Cruz, the original road went 35 miles north and served the Big Basin area."