The fifty-pound, bronze plaque is missing.

The family residing across the street reported its disappearance to the County Sheriff in October, 2005, according to Jake Armstrong reporting in the 9 June 2007 edition of the Stockton Record.

According to the Record, "the agencies whose names are emblazoned on the face of the plaque - the California State Park Commission and the San Joaquin County Historical Society - did not know it was even missing or who is responsible for maintaining it."

Replacement of the plaque seems unlikely. A spokesperson for the California Office of Historic Preservation told Mr. Armstrong that the office does not know who owned the plaque and that the State of California does not replace missing plaques. Plaques commemorating California Historical Landmarks are sponsored and financed by citizens.

Although there is no evidence in this case, theft of copper and copper alloys by methamphetamine users has become an increasing problem in the Central Valley as copper prices and drug usage have risen. (See Jennifer Steinhauer's report from Buttonwillow, California, in the 31 July 2007 edition of the New York Times.)

Here's a list of other California Historical Landmarks which had no bear flag plaque when we visited them.