Trompe l'oeil doors on mausolea at Springdale Cemetery in Peoria

Sorry for the rare non-Illinois post, but I have been listening obsessively to this and its five-cd outtakes companion and it may be all I ever need to listen to forever more. Every note of every song is perfect. Thank you , pls carry on

Very honored to be a guest on the @ilpublicmedia.bsky.social program Prairie Fire and excited to see their segment on some of our state’s finest cemeteries when it airs this fall on PBS affiliates (and online).

A great restaurant, Vondra Social House, has opened in an 1840s building in Lincoln’s old neighborhood. Very tasty small plate menu, wonderfully decorated bathroom, very cool places to eat upstairs, downstairs, and outside. Very much worth a try on your next Springfield visit

Driving around the cemetery that inspired the famed book of poetry Spoon River Anthology, wheeeee

A lot of ppl asking me how I can pull off two library lectures in one day (Western Springs, Route 66, 10am; Hinsdale, Revolutionary Illinois, 7pm) and today I will finally let u in on my secret: I call it GoldMeal, and if u eat it daily, u will unlock your true energy potential

Charleston’s city market. Goes several blocks deep.

Whats up all, wondering if anyone on here knows much about these cemeteries: Springdale (Peoria), Old Concord & Oakland (near Lincoln's New Salem), Oak Hill (Lewistown), Oak Ridge (Springfield). They are all favs of mine & am looking to get a few Q's answered if you/someone u know is an expert

This is the old Citadel in Charleston SC, an 1832 arsenal building created to prevent slave uprisings after Denmark Vesey’s attempt. Despite the dark history, it is a pretty cool Embassy Suites now (serving a diverse crowd) which we stayed in thanks to very generous in-laws

Steeples of Charleston, SC, the Holy City

Mass at the stunning Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston SC was packed today for a service celebrating 35(!) local seminarians. Liturgy was pretty “solemn” but the bishop kept things welcoming and apolitical (😅). Pls see short thread of pics!

Restaurant in Charleston in a 1916 nondenominational sailors’ church with a Lincoln painting and Art of War written on the ceiling in its entirety. Called Church and Union

Exterior shot of the oldest Catholic church in the Carolinas

One of the finest little theaters I’ve seen. Posted this last time I was in Charleston, couldn’t help but take another pic

St. Mary of the Annunciation in Charleston SC, oldest Catholic Church in the Carolinas. Founded in 1789 when the Constitution established freedom of religion. We’re saying the building dates to 1839, tho as with all old buildings, we have components inside that are older and newer.

The Strand Theater in Georgetown SC. A lot of great old buildings here

A roadside joint offering an all you can eat southern buffet near Georgetown SC

North south and west suburbs! I’ll be in Vernon Hills, Western Springs, Hinsdale, and Orland next week discussing Route 66 and Revolutionary Illinois. Hinsdale will have an extra special lecture with live music. Details at link in my bio

Mr. Illinois is in a dark place. Requesting all followers to submit delightful Illinois content below. Favorite places, restaurants , hist. figures STAT

I apologize to my followers for briefly leaving Illinois for a few days. Please take care of the place while I’m out. Very good southern/soul food at Aunny’s in Georgetown SC. Didn’t have the “stomach” to try the hogmaw but everything I did try was excellent

Controversial question: Which Will County Courthouse is your favorite?

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Freeport

Would you fly in this plane from Rockford to Stockholm? Idk if it matters, in this hypothetical I would be the pilot

A church in Warren IL that seems to be someone’s home now

Had a great crowd in both Freeport and Warren, where I spoke on the legacy of George Rogers Clark and the American Revolution in Illinois. In Warren we were in this community building which was, in 1851, a hotel on the stagecoach line thru northern Illinois visited by US Grant

My daughter in front of the largest tree in Illinois, an eastern cottonwood on Ogle County just north of Oregon. This is likely where a wretched little tick got its jaws on me for about 5 hours, pls keep Mr. Illinois in your prayers.

Warren has a grade A collection of buildings downtown. Mr Illinois has been to a lot of small towns and this one was very impressive. Although the town’s only real restaurant was closed

I got to speak in Warren yesterday which is a town on an old northern IL stagecoach trail. We drove a large portion of the trail (sadly, in a car) which is well marked and winds thru some great little towns

The striking St Joseph’s Church on Freeport’s “Piety Hill”

AJ’s Lena Maid Meats in Lena