John Wright, the son of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, invented the Lincoln Logs in 1918. During a trip to Tokyo with his father, John got the idea of interlocking wooden beams from the design of the Imperial Hotel. By interlocking the beams it would allow the structure more stability and support.

– The original logs also came with instructions on how to build “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and President Lincoln’s log cabin.

– By the time the Lincoln Logs became popular, Wright had already sold the rights to the toy.

– The original logs were made from real wood, usually redwood.

– Unlike popular belief, President Lincoln was not the inspiration for the name. It was actually named after John’s father’s real middle name. Frank Lloyd Wright’s middle name was Lincoln but he changed it to Lloyd to honor his mother’s family when his father left the family.









[Photos – Lincoln Logs and The Imperial Hotel]



