Lincoln Logs facts for kids
A sawmill made from Lincoln Logs
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| Type | Children's construction toy |
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| Inventor(s) | John Lloyd Wright |
| Company | Basic Fun, Inc. (under license from Hasbro) |
| Country | United States |
| Availability | 1916–present |
| Materials | Wood |
Lincoln Logs are a popular American construction toy for kids. They are made of small, lightweight logs with square notches. These notches let you connect the logs to build miniature forts, cabins, and other buildings.
The toy was invented around 1916 by John Lloyd Wright. He was the son of a famous architect named Frank Lloyd Wright. Lincoln Logs are named after U.S. president Abraham Lincoln, who famously lived in a log cabin. In 1999, Lincoln Logs were added to the National Toy Hall of Fame.
For many years, different companies have made Lincoln Logs. Since late 2017, Basic Fun, Inc. has been making them. The rights to the toy belong to Hasbro.
How Lincoln Logs Are Designed
Lincoln Logs are about two centimeters (three quarters of an inch) thick. Just like real logs used to build a log cabin, these toy logs have special notches. These notches allow you to stack the logs at right angles. This helps you create strong, rectangular shapes for buildings.
Toy sets also come with other parts. These include roofs, chimneys, windows, and doors. These pieces help your creations look more realistic. Some sets even include tiny animals and people to play with your buildings.
The first Lincoln Logs were made from redwood. The roof pieces came in different colors. For a short time in the 1970s, plastic sets were made. However, the company soon went back to making them from real wood.
The History of Lincoln Logs
John Lloyd Wright invented Lincoln Logs around 1916 or 1917. At that time, he was working in Japan with his father. The idea for the toy came from the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo in Tokyo. His father designed this hotel with special interlocking log beams. This design made the building very strong and "earthquake-proof." It was one of the few buildings that stayed standing after the big 1923 Great Kantō earthquake in 1923.
When John returned to the U.S., he started The Red Square Toy Company. He began selling the toy in 1918. In 1920, he received a U.S. patent for his "Toy-Cabin Construction." Soon after, he changed his company's name to J. L. Wright Manufacturing.
The very first Lincoln Log set came with instructions. You could build a cabin like Uncle Tom's Cabin or Abraham Lincoln's cabin. Later sets became bigger and more detailed. The toy quickly became very popular. It followed other successful construction toys like Meccano, Tinkertoys, and Erector Set. Lincoln Logs are thought to be one of the first toys marketed to both boys and girls. They encouraged a simple, creative way to play.
In 1999, Lincoln Logs and John Lloyd Wright were honored. They were added to the National Toy Hall of Fame. For a while, the toys were made in China. However, in 2014, the manufacturer announced that production would move back to the U.S. More recently, some Lincoln Log sets are again being made in China.
See also
