Outside of some locals in Tucson, not many Arizonans know of this unique shrine that is the only one in America that’s dedicated to a sinner buried on unhallowed grounds. But even still, that shocking fact isn’t the most captivating thing about it; the history behind this unsanctified shrine is both inspiring and upsetting.
The El Tiradito Shrine in Tucson is also known as The Wishing Shrine.
The history behind it is astounding and involves a legendary tale of an 18-year-old ranch hand who married the boss' daughter — and then had a passionate love affair with his Mother-In-Law. The ranch hand, whose name was Juan, would travel regularly from the ranch located north of the city into town where he would visit his wife's mother so the two secret lovers could carry on their affair.
On one unfortunate occasion, Juan's Father-In-Law, and the husband of his lover, followed him and caught the two having sex in his marital bed. According to legend, he was so angry he butchered Juan with a hatchet right on the street and left his body there in a pool of blood.
The El Tiradito Wishing Shrine supposedly marks the spot where Juan is buried, and is now an oft-visited Tucson attraction in what remains of the Barrio Viejo part of town.
However, the reasons people visit vary tremendously. It's believed that some people come to pay homage to Juan himself and for the way his life ended so tragically while quite literally in the throes of experiencing the greatest love he would ever come to know.
The brick walls that surround the shrine are the remains of an old building. Years of decay have created holes where mortar of sort was used to hold the bricks in place. The holes in the wall are now filled with hundreds of hand-written wishes and thoughts left behind by the scores of people who visit The Wishing Shrine.
Advertisement
One often-believed legend behind the shrine has to do with a person's intentions.
If a visitor has pure intentions when making a wish, then the wish is likely to come true. Many visitors bring flowers to the shrine; while others bring a candle to light before making their wish and leaving the candle behind. Many people believe if the candle is still burning by morning, then their wish will come true.
Whatever the reason for visiting this dirt lot that contains a shrine to someone most believe is a sinner, this much-loved shrine in Tucson will likely be around for wishing rituals for a long time.
During development of this neighborhood, a group who feared the shrine would be demolished, got together and petitioned to have it placed on the National Register of Historic Places. So the next time you need a miracle in your love life... give this oddball shrine a shot; you never know if that candle will burn 'til morning until you try!
Want to pay a visit? You’ll find The Wishing Shrine (a.k.a. El Tiradito Shrine) at 418 S. Main Ave., Tucson AZ 85701. It’s free to visit and open 24 hours a day. Find a little more information on this page of the official website for the City of Tucson.
There’s another quite unusual shrine in Arizona you may also want to visit. Learn more about it in this previous article.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
