Chicago to get George Lucas Museum

Film director George Lucas has selected the windy city as the home for a new museum that will contain his personal art collection, which includes works by Norman Rockwell, as well as movie memorabilia, such as costumes from Star Wars. A Lucas spokesperson confirmed the news Tuesday, as well as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Chicago was chosen over California cities Los Angeles and San Francisco as the location for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Lucas originally wanted it built across from Crissy Field in San Francisco, the city where he made his career. However, the Presidio Trust rejected his proposal and offered a smaller site instead. Chicago, where Lucas lives part-time with his wife Mellody Hobson, ended up making a better offer.

“Choosing Chicago is the right decision for the museum, but a difficult decision for me personally because of my strong personal and professional roots in San Francisco,” Lucas stated. “I thank all Californians who reached out to me in support of the museum.”

“We are honored to be partnering with the city of Chicago and the many cultural, educational and community groups that have come forward with ideas about how the LMNA [Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts] will add to their vibrant work,” Lucas added. “I am humbled to be joining such an extraordinary museum community and to be creating the museum in a city that has a long tradition of embracing the arts.”

The museum will be built on Chicago’s lakefront museum campus, which is the same area where the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum are located. It is expected to open in 2018.