Lincoln Logs were invented around 1916, with the concept developed between 1916 and 1917 by John Lloyd Wright, son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The toy was first marketed a bit later, in 1918, and the patent for the design was issued in 1920.

Quick Scoop

  • Lincoln Logs were invented circa 1916 while John Lloyd Wright was in Japan working with his father on the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.
  • The interlocking-log idea was inspired by the hotel’s earthquake-resistant, interlocking wooden beam foundation.
  • Wright began selling the toy in the United States in 1918 under his own toy company.
  • A U.S. patent for the “Toy-Cabin Construction” design was granted on August 31, 1920.

Mini Timeline

  • 1916–1917: Core idea and design for Lincoln Logs created by John Lloyd Wright.
  • 1918: Lincoln Logs first marketed to the public in the U.S.
  • 1920: Patent issued for the construction toy design.

In short, when people ask “when were Lincoln Logs invented,” the accepted answer is that they were invented around 1916 , even though they did not reach the market until a couple of years later.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.