Historic Plaque Stolen from 1934 Palm Springs Landmark Along Palm Canyon Drive

What may appear to be a minor theft outside a downtown Palm Springs restaurant is being described as a serious loss to local history.

A historic plaque has been stolen from a building along Palm Canyon Drive that has stood in downtown Palm Springs for more than 82 years. The structure, built in 1934, is designated as a Class I historic site and was originally the General Telephone Building, one of the city’s earliest commercial structures.

Palm Springs historian Steve Sumrall says the building played an important role in the community’s early communications network, housing telephone operators and switchboards that served the growing desert town.

According to Sumrall, the building is also a rare example of Palm Springs’ pre-modernist architectural era. Before the 1940s, much of the city featured Spanish Revival and Spanish Colonial styles, making this structure one of the few remaining examples of that period.

The building is now home to Sunset California Cuisine. Restaurant staff discovered the plaque missing in late August and contacted the city to report the theft. The plaque detailed the historical significance of the site and helped educate visitors about the building’s role in Palm Springs history.

Former telephone operator Florence Ann Hagstrom once worked in the building, recalling how all operations—from business offices to switchboards—were contained within its walls.

While the city is aware of the missing plaque, there has been no confirmation yet on whether it will be replaced. For now, officials and property representatives are hoping it will be returned.

Historians say the loss goes beyond vandalism, calling it a reminder of how fragile historic preservation can be without community awareness and respect.

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