Located in Tucson’s Barrio Viejo is a wishing shrine that many say is a place where miracles come true.
El Tiradito, also known as The Castaway or The Fallen One, is tucked away on South Main Avenue between Cushing and Simpson Street. It is a significant part of Tucson’s history and the only shrine in the United States dedicated to a sinner.

There are several legends told regarding the history of El Tiradito, however the most common legend told is a version of a Mexican shepherd who came to live with a married couple in Tucson.

According to this legend, a rancher and his wife lived in a house just behind where El Tiradito lies today. The couple allowed a sheep herder from Mexico to live with them and stay at their house. One day the rancher came home and found his wife and the herder in a very uncompromising position. It is said the husband killed the sheep herder right then and there and buried the body somewhere in front of the house.

The neighborhood learned of the murder and out of pity came to his grave. They placed candles around the grave thinking it would free his soul to heaven.

Most people did not believe the sheep herder had an affair with the wife, but rather he was murdered in, "cold cold blood," but talking to people around town, it is evident that no one truly knows what happened.

In 1936, Tucson’s city engineer architect Ed Herrera built the back crop that stands as the shrine today.

The shrine remained untouched until the late 60s when Tucson city officials decided to conduct “urban revival” and destroy almost all of historical Tucson.

That is when Annie Laos, 78, put together a group of people to fight and save El Tiradito.

Laos and her husband Roy are natives of Tucson. They have owned Roy’s Arizona Liquor and Food located on 647 S. 6th Ave. for 54 years.


Laos was adamant to not only save El Tiradito, but as much of the Barrio Viejo as she could.

According to Laos, at the time Mayor Jim Corbett was planning to build the Butterfield Expressway, a freeway from the Tucson International Airport to the Tucson City Center that would destroy a two-block area of historic Tucson.

Local neighborhoods and people, including Laos, hated this idea.

“We fought the freeway tooth and nail and it wasn’t easy,” she said. “I was receiving death threats on the telephone and people would walk by me and push me off the street, but I still pursued.”

After hiring lawyers and gaining ground, Laos and her followers finally hit a wall and negotiations stopped. Then, a representative from Arizona Department of Transportation called Laos and asked her to meet with some engineers.

“I walked in and they had three easels with different proposals for the wishing shrine,” she said. “The first idea was to raise the shrine up on pylon so that cars could travel under. The second was to move the shrine a block and a half south and the third was to remove the shrine all together.

“We said no to all three.”

Then in 1971, by chance, Laos found out about a UA professor with expertise in folklore who was visiting Tucson. Laos gave her the information on El Tiradito and in a matter of a month, the shrine was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“It was truly a miracle how it happened,” Laos said. “Probably the greatest miracle it has given.”

A lot is said for El Tiradito, but people still wonder if it truly makes wishes come true.

Carol Cribbet-Bell, president of La Pilita Association, said not a lot of people are aware of El Tiradito, but prominent "old-time" Tucsonans recognize it as a place of miracles.

“People visit daily to pray for loved ones, especially since the war in Iraq began. They also pray for people who have died while trying to cross the border,” she said. “They bring beautiful candles, pictures and notes.”

Laos said even during World War II, people of the neighborhood would place candles for loved ones in the service; the candles went all the way out to the street, there were so many.

“Well supposedly if you light a candle in the evening and make a wish, if the candle is still burning in the morning,” she said, “it will come true.”

Laos had friends who were trying to conceive for several years and never had any success, he said. Finally, the husband visited El Tiradito, lit a candle and made a wish, and within a week his wife was expecting.

“El Tiradito brought Tucson rich folklore” Cribbet-Bell said. “It is a great symbol for the roots of Tucson.”

“It offers hope to people.”