Machu Picchu, the ancient Incan settlement high in the Peruvian mountains, was (re)discovered by American Hiram Bingham (who was later a U.S. Senator) on this date in 1911.

Only the locals knew that something had been there once upon a time, and they had continued to use the agricultural terraces the Incans had started to use in the 1400s, but the buildings had been forgotten and overtaken by the jungle.

The Spanish conquistadors had never found the site and so had never affected it. There are claims that some explorers found the site in the 1800s, and some maps locate a similar name near the location, but Bingham seems to have been the first to recognize how special the site was and is and organized regular expeditions to uncover and preserve it.

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The “Pine Tar Game” between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees was played, well, began, on this date in 1983.

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Tony Lema died 50 years ago today. Peter Sellers died on this date in 1980. Isaac Bashevis Singer died 25 years ago today.

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John D. MacDonald was born 100 years ago today.

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Pat Oliphant is 81 today. Ruth Buzzi is 80 today. Dan Hedaya is 76. Robert Hays is 69 today. Lynda Carter is 65 today. Gus Van Sant is 64. Banana Yoshimoto is 52. Kristin Chenoweth is 48 today. Jennifer Lopez is 47.

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