[2] Cerro Colorado was established around 1855 by Charles D. Poston, who owned the Sonora Exploring & Mining Company in Tubac, Arizona.

In 1861, fifteen Mexican and Native American men were killed after being buried alive in their shaft when the roof caved in.

When the Civil War began, United States Army troops left the region to fight the rebels and the town became part of Confederate Arizona.

[2] When Charles Poston left Cerro Colorado, the mining operations were constantly halted due to the Mexican employees who continually stole and took their plunder to Sonora.

By 1864 a walled stone fort was erected on a nearby hill and a guard tower was constructed in the town plaza.