The Force is with LA, as $1 Billion George Lucas Museum Opts for The City

FilmmakerGeorge Lucas has chosenL.A. over San Francisco to house his $1 billion museum, TheLucas Museum of Narrative Art.

The newmuseumwill showcaseartefects from the Star Wars creator's personal collection.These will includememorabilia fromStar Warsand other filmstogether withvintage photographs and traditional paintings. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says the museum is planning to open onMay 4th, 2020.

TheLucas Museum of Narrative Art

The museum's board of directors said, "After extensive due diligence and deliberation, the Board of Directors of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is pleased to announce plans to build the museum in Exposition Park in Los Angeles.

"We have been humbled by the overwhelmingly positive support we received from both San Francisco and Los Angeles during our selection process. Settling on a location proved to be an extremely difficult decision precisely because of the desirability of both sites and cities."

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George Lucas was previously consideringtwo designs for his plannedMuseum of Narrative Art.One was for Los Angeles’ Exposition Park. The other wasa similar proposal but forSan Francisco’s Treasure Island. Chicago was also looked at, but local opposition meant the plan was scrapped last summer.

The Vision of George Lucas

Mayor Garcetti thanked George Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, for opting forLos Angeles."They have a vision that museums should not be foreboding places, but should be welcoming, " hesaid.

He also added, perhaps with a raised eyebrow, "this is not aStar Warsmuseum."

"This is a collection of narrative art in a city that has the best storytellers and storymakers in the world. The best collection of Norman Rockwell paintings on Earth. Works from R. Crumb."

In addition, the Mayor mentionedJeffrey Katzenberg.Katzenberg had “relentlessly pushed” for the museum to come to L.A. Los Angeles County Museum of Art director Michael Govan had also been influentialin LA's lobbying.

"'Do or do not — there is no try, '" Garcetti said, quoting Star wars chracter Yoda. "Today, we did it."

The museum's space-agedesign is byChinese architect Ma Yansong. The museum's backersestimate it willbring 1, 500 construction jobsto LAtogether with an extra350 permanent roles at the museum.

ImagesLucas Museum of Narrative Art.