Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Where Did Lincoln Logs Come From

Lincoln Logs Classic Edition Tin

Where Did Lincoln Logs Come From?

A Guest Post by Charles Pogue


Frank Lloyd Wright was one of America’s best known architects and interior designers. He designed over a thousand structures. Although he was best known for the design of the prairie house style of home, he also was the architect on New York’s Guggenheim Museum.

It isn’t surprising that Frank Wright’s son, John Lloyd Wright followed in his father’s footsteps, and became an architect himself; sons often do that.

As an architect, John Wright was interested in standardized designs and prefabrications which may explain the invention for which he is most famous. In 1916, John Lloyd wright invented the Lincoln Logs construction toy. In 1918 the toy was marketed by the Red Square Toy Company and by John Lloyd Wright incorporated.

Lincoln Logs Building Set
Lincoln Logs are just what their name suggests, small round brown logs of various lengths, with notches cut in each end on the opposite sides, so they can be fitted  together to build a log cabin structure.

They also have accompanying pieces for the completion of the roofs, such as flat green slats and chimneys. There are sets for forts and other buildings, as well. They even have sets designed for girls, such as the Prairie Farmhouse Set shown here. My wife tells me these are great, but she had fun using the original toys to build with when she was a child.

I received these Lincoln Log building blocks for Christmas more than once (multiple times because we had the tendency to lose pieces) when I was growing up, and with my siblings, played with them all of the time.

Although challenged by other building type toys, kids today, both boys and girls still enjoy them. Because Lincoln Logs help in the development of motor skills and spacial concepts in younger kids, as well as spurring the imagination of older children, they are a true educational toy.

Did you play with Lincoln Logs when you were a child?


 
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