In July 1911, Hiram Bingham III, an American academic and explorer affiliated with Yale University, led an expedition to the Andes Mountains in Peru. Although the local indigenous population knew of the existence of an ancient city, it remained largely unrecognized by the western world. During his exploration, Bingham's team stumbled upon the spectacular ruins of Machu Picchu, a well-preserved Incan citadel that had been hidden for centuries amidst dense jungle, approximately 7,970 feet above sea level.

Bingham's journey to Machu Picchu was part of a wider movement in the early 20th century to explore and document pre-Columbian civilizations. Initially, he believed he had found the 'Lost City of the Incas,' a site that legendary explorers had sought for years, thus sparking a new era of archaeological study and publicity for the Incan Empire. The ruins he uncovered included intricate stone structures, agricultural terraces, and the sophisticated engineering of water channels.

Bingham meticulously documented his findings through photographs and artifacts, which he brought back to Yale, later leading to a significant academic interest in Inca culture and history. However, his actions have sparked controversy regarding cultural ownership, as many artifacts removed from Peru were not returned until much later. The publicity surrounding Machu Picchu transformed it into a symbol of Incan heritage and a crucial site for tourists and scholars alike, establishing its status as one of the most famous archaeological locations in the world.