Cerro Colorado, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cerro Colorado
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 Cerro Colorado, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Cerro Colorado, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arizona |
| County | Pima |
| Elevation | 1,118 m (3,668 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
| Post Office Opened: | April 17, 1872 |
| Post Office Closed: | April 15, 1911 |
Cerro Colorado is a fascinating ghost town located in southern Pima County, Arizona. You can find it off Arivaca Road, close to Arivaca. This old town is famous for a sad event where mining workers were attacked. It is also known for stories about buried treasure.
History of Cerro Colorado
Cerro Colorado was started around 1855. A man named Charles D. Poston founded it. He owned a company called the Sonora Exploring & Mining Company. This company was based in Tubac, Arizona. The most successful mine in the area was the Heintzelman Mine. It was named after Major General Samuel P. Heintzelman. He was the first president of the mining company. Later, he became well-known during the American Civil War.
The town had its own post office. It opened on April 17, 1879. However, it closed many years later on April 15, 1911.
In 1861, a tragic accident happened at the mine. Fifteen Mexican and Native American miners were working deep underground. The roof of their shaft suddenly collapsed. They were trapped and could not be rescued. This event scared the other Mexican employees. They believed the mine was haunted. Because of this, they left and returned to Sonora. After they left, new miners from Germany and the United States came to work.
When the American Civil War began, things changed. United States Army troops left the area to fight in the war. Cerro Colorado then became part of Confederate Arizona. The town was once again surrounded by Apache land. This meant the settlement was always in danger. Around the same time in 1861, Charles Poston left the mine. He had other business to attend to. He put his brother, John Poston, in charge of the mine.
The Mystery of the Cerro Colorado Treasure
When Charles Poston left, the mining work faced many problems. Mexican employees often stole silver. They would take the stolen silver to Sonora. One day, Poston's foreman, known as Juanito, was caught. He was trying to take a large amount of stolen silver. To set an example, Poston had Juanito executed. The silver was never found. People said Juanito buried it somewhere near the mine.
Juanito's death made things worse. Over the next few nights, more Mexicans stole "whatever they could". They took the stolen goods to Sonora. There, several Mexican outlaws heard about the buried treasure. These outlaws quickly traveled to Arizona. They went straight to the mine. Once there, they convinced the Mexican employees to help them. They then destroyed parts of the mine. They hoped to find the silver.
The outlaws did not find the treasure. After failing, they killed John Poston and two German miners. As of 2010, the treasure has still not been found. After the attack, the outlaws left for Mexico. The mine was later rebuilt. By 1864, a strong stone fort was built. It was on a nearby hill. A guard tower was also added in the town's main square. Today, you can still see a few old adobe buildings. John Poston's concrete grave and his tombstone are also still there.
Images for kids
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John Poston's grave in 2008.
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Cerro Colorado in 1864, by J. Ross Browne.
