The visitors' center is located in the village of Los Cerrillos.

The Cerrillos Hills were originally known by the Spanish as the Sierra de San Mateo.

[1] In 1581, they discovered the lead-silver deposits there, which had earlier been used by the pueblo peoples as an ingredient in pottery glazes.

[2] The Cerrillos Mining District was added to the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties in 1973.

[1] Its name then was the Santa Fe County Cerrillos Hills Historic Park.