Durango, CO – They dot the Southwest landscape, paying tribute to lives lost and dreams shattered.
Roadside shrines in Sonora, Mexico. These shrines house different saints/virgins that protect travelers. Travelers stop by to pray, light candles, bring flowers.
Photo credit: By Tomascastelazo (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0]
Sobering symbols of grief and love, roadside shrines commemorate a place where someone died suddenly.
They’re found all over the world, particularly in the American Southwest.
One, in southern Colorado, has stood the test of time.
Essayist Andrew Gulliford visited it years ago and was happy to learn recently that it had grown in size.
Listen to the essay:
Southwest Sampler features audio commentary by various essayists on the history, landscape, culture, and people of the American Southwest.
This piece was written by Andrew Gulliford, Ph.D., Professor of History and Environmental Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango. It was recorded and edited by Mark Duggan.
Hear more Southwest Sampler essays here.