I recommend you combine a visit to El Minuto, a small Mexican restaurant near the Convention Center in Tucson, and your visit to the El Tradito (also known as The Wishing Shrine) next door, the only holy shrine in America dedicated to a sinner. It is a good place for small gatherings/events and can be reserved for weddings by calling 520-791-4873.
The shrine sits on the ruined remains of a house with only the back brick wall still standing. There are many candles, and tokens, photographs, letters, and gifts on the wall. So many candles have burned there over the decades that the old wax has made a large black pad of the ground.
There are many stories regarding how the shrine came to be, but one told by a Yaqui Indian was that in the 1800's, a young man fell in love with his mother -in-law. His father in law found out about the affair and killed him at this house. Since he was a sinner in the eyes of the church, for being in love (and probably having sex) with his mother-in-law, he couldn't be buried on consecrated ground at the nearby Roman Catholic Church's cemetery. Other similar stories all involve some sort of lovers' triangle.
The first site of El Tiradito was at the corner of Simpson and Meyer streets, but the shrine has been at three different, very close, locations. The second site of the shrine was at the corner of Simpson and Main streets. Its present location, 356 S. Main St., is the location listed on the Nation Register of Historic Places. It was accepted to the registry in 1971 after the El Tradito Foundation saved it from demolition for the Butterfield Expressway.
Over time, men and women come and pray at this site, not for the murdered lover, but for people that had become lost to them. Maybe they didn't know where a loved one physically was, or they were lost to addictions and in darkness of some kind, or just lost because they were lost. No matter. They came and they prayed.
It is said that if you bring a tall votive candle and pray for something or someone, your prayer will come true if the candle is still burning the next day.I have visited the shrine many times. It is very romantic, at night with the candles burning, but also a little scary; definately a memorable experience. Be careful of what you wish for! read more