History
1900 - 1920
Birth of the quarry
- Arthur Roberts Wilson purchased a small granite quarry in Aromas; formed Granite Rock Company (Graniterock) on Feb. 14, 1900.
- Steam-powered crushers dramatically increase output, marking the first major mechanization of the quarry.
1920 - 1940
Rail upgrades and business restructuring
- Standard-gauge locomotives arrive, improving integration with Southern Pacific rail.
- California's first asphaltic concrete plant opens at the Wilson Quarry.
1940 - 1960
War effort and new primary plant
- Wilson Quarry output surges to support WWII construction projects, including Fort Ord.
- The company invests in its first fleet of Ford concrete mixer trucks.
1960 - 1980
Mechanization and efficiency
- Wilson Quarry materials help build the Santa Cruz Harbor, the Stanford Linear Accelerator, and UC Santa Cruz.
- New 100-ton hopper cars allow long-distance rail shipments of rock from the Wilson Quarry.
1980 - 2000
Mobile crusher and modernization
- Wilson Quarry materials help build the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cal State Monterey Bay.
- Graniterock wins the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award in 1992, presented to the company by President George H.W. Bush.
2000 - Today
Graniterock's second century
- Graniterock celebrates its 100th anniversary with a gala in San Francisco in 2000.
- Solar arrays and plant upgrades improve environmental performance and safety.
- Graniterock celebrates 125 years at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in 2025.
