Popcorn itself was not invented by a single person but is an ancient snack that originated in the Americas with evidence of popcorn consumption dating back over 6,000 years, with fossilized popped kernels found in Peru and New Mexico. The indigenous peoples of the Americas were the first to cultivate and pop maize. However, Charles Cretors of Chicago is credited with inventing modern popcorn as a commercial snack. In 1885, he invented the first mobile popcorn cart, and in 1893, he patented the first popcorn machine capable of popping corn in oil, which he showcased at the World's Columbian Exposition. This invention popularized popcorn as a snack, especially in fairs, theaters, and later movie theaters.