Lincoln Logs

Gameplay

One of the very wonderful things about Lincoln Logs is that there’s no one way, or correct way, to play. Lincoln Logs are like LEGOs in that way. While there are certain things you can follow directions to build—the original Lincoln Logs were sold with instructions to replicate Uncle Tom’s Cabin—you really can build anything you like with them. It’s a form of simple, creative play.

Lincoln Logs are miniature wooden logs with square notches build in on the top and bottom of each side. You can use them to build small forts and buildings—or, truly, anything you’d like. They notch into place and are secure as you stack them. Some sets include roofs, chimneys, windows, and doors, and later sets even included small human and animal figurines sized to scale with the small buildings.

History

John Llyod Wright was working on the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo sometime between 1916 and 1917 when the idea for Lincoln Logs came about. An architect working with his father on an innovative new hotel that was designed with interlocking log beams so that it was “earthquake-proof,” John thought the idea would lend itself well to toys. Side note: the Imperial Hotel was one of the few buildings still standing after the Great Kanto Earthquake that decimated Tokyo in 1923.

When John returned to the United States, he formed The Red Square Toy Company and marketed Lincoln Logs in 1918. He was issued a patent two years later in 1920, and soon after changed the name of his company to J. L. Wright Manufacturing.

The original Lincoln Log set came with instructions on how to build Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Abraham Lincoln’s cabin. These were made of redwood. The toy was a hit, and it’s widely accepted as the first toy that was marketed to both boys and girls. Side note: in the 1970s, the company introduced Lincoln Logs made of plastic, but soon after reverted back to wood—it just wasn’t the same.

Beginning in 2014, Lincoln Logs were manufactured by K’NEX Industries. In 2017, K’NEX was bought out by Basic Fun. The rights to the IP, though, belong to Hasbro. In 2024, Basic Fun filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and they’re planning on using the bankruptcy proceedings to repay its creditors while remaining in operation.

Reception & Awards

Lincoln Logs and their creator, John Lloyd Wright, were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1999. Over 100 million sets of Lincoln Logs have been sold since their creation.