Overview
El Tiradito is a famous shrine in Tucson’s Old Barrio. The memorial is said to be the only Catholic shrine in the country “dedicated to a sinner buried in unconsecrated ground.” According to one version of the legend, the monument honors Juan Oliveras, an 18-year-old ranch hand who had an affair with his mother-in-law. His father-in-law subsequently killed Oliveras. The original shrine dates to 1870, but the current version dates to the 1920s. The shrine is said to exemplify Sonoran Catholicism, a blending of Catholic doctrine with local customs. The National Register of Historic Places added it in 1971.
Quick Facts
- Status
- Existing
- Locality or neighborhood
- Tucson
- State or province
- Arizona
- Postal code
- 85701
