Certified Illinois Expert
@mrillinois.bsky.social
Expert in Illinois counties. Acting State Symbologist (self-appointed). Libraries, Lincoln, nature, architecture, transit. Book my library programs & get my newsletter at johnkokoris.com!
A small thread starring the glorious ceilings of St. Louis Public Library’s main branch
November 16, 2025 at 1:05 AM
A small thread starring the glorious ceilings of St. Louis Public Library’s main branch
Over the fireplace: “Vita hominis sine litteris mors est, something like “life without books is death.” (The library at the Cupples house in St. Louis.)
November 15, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Over the fireplace: “Vita hominis sine litteris mors est, something like “life without books is death.” (The library at the Cupples house in St. Louis.)
More of the beautiful Romanesque Cupples House at SLU
November 15, 2025 at 8:04 PM
More of the beautiful Romanesque Cupples House at SLU
Mythical/celestial stained glass window at the Cupples House in St. Louis.
November 15, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Mythical/celestial stained glass window at the Cupples House in St. Louis.
my Gooey Butter Cake and a cute little house on the Hill in STL
November 15, 2025 at 2:05 AM
my Gooey Butter Cake and a cute little house on the Hill in STL
More from the very cool Pere Marquette Gallery, which used to be SLU’s library. Gotta bring back these corkscrew spiral staircases in libraries
November 14, 2025 at 8:36 PM
More from the very cool Pere Marquette Gallery, which used to be SLU’s library. Gotta bring back these corkscrew spiral staircases in libraries
Sorry but if you are an old library with an “Illinois room,” I am going to be in love with you
November 14, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Sorry but if you are an old library with an “Illinois room,” I am going to be in love with you
Old St. Joseph/St. Clare Hospital in Alton, a beautiful late art deco behemoth from 1937
November 14, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Old St. Joseph/St. Clare Hospital in Alton, a beautiful late art deco behemoth from 1937
College Church at SLU
November 14, 2025 at 1:56 PM
College Church at SLU
Alton’s genealogy library. Beautiful!
November 14, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Alton’s genealogy library. Beautiful!
Nighttime in Alton
November 14, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Nighttime in Alton
Alton sunset
November 13, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Alton sunset
Literary technology in windows in SLU’s former library.
November 13, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Literary technology in windows in SLU’s former library.
Faces of Abe at his museum in Springfield
November 13, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Faces of Abe at his museum in Springfield
St. Louis Hills has this great collection of 30s-40s homes with Tudor and Art Deco touches and lots of stained glass that seems very different from what we have in Chicago homes. I even found a lovely art deco octagon home (#4 here).
November 13, 2025 at 4:42 PM
St. Louis Hills has this great collection of 30s-40s homes with Tudor and Art Deco touches and lots of stained glass that seems very different from what we have in Chicago homes. I even found a lovely art deco octagon home (#4 here).
Probably my favorite church
November 13, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Probably my favorite church
Three domes in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
November 13, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Three domes in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
Nighttime at the striking St. Gabriel’s in St. Louis Hills. More pics below!
November 13, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Nighttime at the striking St. Gabriel’s in St. Louis Hills. More pics below!
One of only 5 handwritten copies of the Gettysburg Address is on display at the Lincoln presidential library/museum thru this month in this protective smart glass case that is fully opaque unless you push a button.
November 12, 2025 at 9:32 PM
One of only 5 handwritten copies of the Gettysburg Address is on display at the Lincoln presidential library/museum thru this month in this protective smart glass case that is fully opaque unless you push a button.
The old state capitol where Lincoln finished out his career as a state legislator (after helping to move the capital to Springfield a few years prior)
November 12, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The old state capitol where Lincoln finished out his career as a state legislator (after helping to move the capital to Springfield a few years prior)
Prairie Archives’ innovative box storage system
November 12, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Prairie Archives’ innovative box storage system
Selfie in Lincoln’s shaving mirror
November 12, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Selfie in Lincoln’s shaving mirror
In honor of Polish Independence Day, some truly remarkable sgraffito art by Jozef Slawinski on the lower level of the mausoleum at Resurrection Cemetery in Justice. The whole floor is filled with art depicting people and scenes from Polish history
November 12, 2025 at 5:47 AM
In honor of Polish Independence Day, some truly remarkable sgraffito art by Jozef Slawinski on the lower level of the mausoleum at Resurrection Cemetery in Justice. The whole floor is filled with art depicting people and scenes from Polish history