The clock is ticking on the restoration of the Cortés Palace in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, severely damaged in a devastating earthquake on September 19, 2017. The 7.1 Richter-scale quake damaged thousands of buildings in the State of Morelos including scores of convents and other historical sites.  Reconstruction of historic buildings is the job of the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH). The original appropriation of funds turned out to be inadequate to the task at the Cortés Palace as the structural damage had been underestimated. As work progressed and rubble was removed, ancient features of the palace were revealed. Various projects over more than three centuries had covered over unappreciated murals and architectural features. Scraping pealing walls revealed beautiful art works and decorations worth restoring, and more artists had to be recruited.