Peruvian explorer and farmer Agustín Lizárraga discovers Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas"

On July 14, 1902, Agustín Lizárraga, a Peruvian farmer and self-taught explorer, made a groundbreaking discovery that would later captivate the world: Machu Picchu, the 'Lost City of the Incas.' Nestled high in the Andes Mountains, this ancient site had been hidden from Western knowledge for centuries, shrouded in mist and jungle overgrowth. Lizárraga, while exploring the region as part of his agricultural endeavors, stumbled upon the ruins and etched his name into history—and, quite literally, onto a stone found at the site, which bore the inscription 'A. Lizárraga 1902.' Despite the significance of his discovery, Lizárraga's name faded into relative obscurity as global recognition of the site grew. It wasn't until 1911, when American historian and explorer Hiram Bingham was guided to Machu Picchu by locals, that the site gained international fame. Bingham's subsequent writings, photographs, and advocacy brought Machu Picchu to the world's attention, but Lizárraga's earlier role was largely overlooked in the narrative.