This hill is a natural landmark that has served El Camino Real travelers for centuries. Various petroglyphs are located on the hill. A 17th century road ran along the western base of the hill. After the river changed its course during the early 18th century and the founding of Tomé village, the main road shifted to go along the valley and by the village plaza.
This hill is a natural landmark that has served El Camino Real travelers for centuries. Various petroglyphs are located on the hill. A 17th century road ran along the western base of the hill. After the river changed its course during the early 18th century and the founding of Tomé village, the main road shifted to go along the valley and by the village plaza.
Cerro de Tomé is a remnant of New Mexico's ancient volcanic past that has been established as a ceremonial site and pilgrimage destination. Its walls bear witness to rock art created from 3000 B.C. to the 17th century, expressing worldviews and cosmology intermingled with crosses and other Christian symbols.
The name of this hill is derived from Tomé Domínguez de Mendoza, a Spanish soldier who served as the acting governor of New Mexico in 1664. He built a house near the hill but fled it during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, moving to El Paso del Norte and later to Spain.
Over the years, amid the transitions between the Spanish Crown, the Mexican Republic, and the U.S. government, Cerro de Tomé has attracted the attention of travelers on the Camino Real as a religious and recreational destination.
