Mount Rushmore is in the midst of its annual facelift. Crews are working to fill in cracks and preserve the granite faces of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. Work on the monument is expected to last through next week.

According to the National Parks Service, all of the attractions surrounding the iconic mountain are expected to remain open during the repairs. However, from time to time, access to Presidential Trail will be limited as crews bring heavy equipment through.

Attracting two million visitors annually, Mount Rushmore is by far the most visited tourist attraction in South Dakota. Carving on the monument began in 1927 and finished in 1941. Yearly maintenance is needed to keep up appearances and fight erosion.

Source: MSNBC

Flickr: OakleyOriginals