History of Lincoln Log Sets

Lincoln Log sets were invented in the early part of the twentieth century. The original design was created in 1916. Following World War II, Lincoln Log sets became even more successful with the increased population caused by the baby boom. Although certain attributes of Lincoln Log sets changed over the years, the principle design of interlocking blocks that can build houses continues to remain popular.

Origin

The design for Lincoln Logs was influenced by the basement of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. The walls were constructed with interlocking beams that were said to make the building earthquake-proof.

Name

The name for the toy is believed to have originated from the real middle name of the inventor's father, Frank Lloyd Wright. The name stuck because of instructions sent with the original designs on how to build the log cabin of Abraham Lincoln.

Introduction

Lincoln Log sets were originally sold by the Red Square Toy Company. The first line of products came out in 1918 and were manufactured by the John Lloyd Wright Corporation based in Chicago, Illinois.

Plastic Editions

During the 1970s, Lincoln Log sets ceased to be made from wood. Rising concerns over the continued destruction of forests stimulated a change to plastics. This was also influenced by the availability of plastics injection molding.

Modern Version

Lincoln Log sets were changed back to wood during the late 1990s. This was spurred by concerns over the overproduction and safety of plastics, especially in toys. Increased nostalgia for the wooden models also influenced this decision.

Resources

• Lincoln Log History
• History of Lincoln Logs
• Lincoln Logs