EL TIRADITO WISHING SHRINE

"Tucked in an alcove behind El Minuto Cafe in Tucson’s oldest neighborhood, El Tiradito wishing shrine is everything you could want: creepy, cool, touching, and steeped in history and lore. El Tiradito, “the little castaway,” is the only shrine in the United States dedicated to a sinner. There are many versions of the legend behind El Tiradito, and they all go something like this: In the 1870s, a young ranch hand fell in love with his mother-in-law, was murdered by his father-in-law, and was buried where he fell due to not being able to be buried (as an adulterer) in consecrated ground. Over the years, a shrine appeared at the supposed site of the ranch hand’s demise. Some believe that if you light a candle at the shrine and make a wish, it will be granted if the candle burns through the night. Others think there’s some kind of curse associated with the shrine."