This last weekend, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opened to members for previews and parties before its official opening to the public on September 22, 2026. The museum is located on 13 acres of Exposition Park and is the realization of the dreams of George Lucas and Mellody Hobson. It “explores how images move us and shape our collective memory.” It is also an instant cultural treasure that will delight those who attend for decades (if not centuries) to come. Ahead of this museum’s official public opening, here are some initial thoughts after attending one of the member previews over the weekend.

Something for Everyone

The Lucas Museum is not a traditional museum. It is very diverse, with something for everyone. Unsurprisingly, there are some incredible artifacts from the Star Wars universe that George Lucas created. This includes costumes, props, vehicles, and artwork. This was one of the more popular exhibits within the museum. However, there are many other offerings found throughout the museum. This is where the museum can get overwhelming.

The museum houses an incredible collection that has been collected and curated by Lucas and Hobson. This collection ranges from illustrators like Norman Rockwell, Jessie Willcox Smith, Maxfield Parrish, and N. C. Wyeth to comic artists like Winsor McCay, Frank Frazetta, George Herriman, Jack Kirby, and Robert Crumb. There are also contemporary artists from the realms of modern art that include Frida Kahlo, Jacob Lawrence, Charles White, and Robert Colescott. On top of that, there are muralists represented, including Judith F. Baca and Diego Rivera.

Beyond the art collection, there are extensive film archives (including the Lucas Archives from 1971- 2012, before the sale of the company to Disney). This reflects the museum’s dedication to storytelling in every medium… and it sure seems like they are collecting and showcasing every medium of narrative art.

Walking around the museum, there are film props, photos, paintings, drawings, sculptures, and more that seem to showcase the history of narrative art from so many different genres. In each of these areas of the museum, it would be very easy to spend quite a bit of time perusing what is found.

A LOT of Art

There is a surprising amount of art to be found throughout the museum. This perhaps shouldn’t be surprising, given the amount of variety that can be found throughout the museum. In total, there are over 1,200 objects to check out. However, knowing that going into it, I still found myself shocked at the sheer volume of things to check out. Simply deciding where to go first is a fairly big decision in itself! In a perfect world, I think I would tackle one or two sections of the Lucas Museum in a day, take my time, and not try to experience too much all at once. For example, I could have easily spent a good chunk of time just looking at the Photography section of the museum.

The museum shared a list of opening day exhibitions that guests can enjoy when they visit. This includes the following:

• Architecture – the innovative designs that inspired the architectural vision of the museum
• Benton – selected works of Thomas Hart Benton’s depiction of American life
• Children’s stories – illustrations of children’s literature by Beatrix Potter, Leo Politi, E.H. Shepard, Jacob Lawerence, and more
• Cinema – a selection of production designs, props, and costumes from the Lucas Archives
• Everyday Life – a series of galleries dedicated to visual stories about Childhood, Community, Family, Love, Motherhood, Play, School, Sports, and Work, expressing the myths that have both reflected and shaped modern American society
• Civic Life – artists’ portrayals of experience in the courthouse, the polling place, the political headquarters, and more
• Comics • Graphic Stories – a showcase of the museum’s deep holdings of American and European comics, including works by Mœbius, Marie Severin, Jack Kirby, Alison Bechdel, Jim Lee, Frank Miller, and Rafael Navarro
• Manga – selections from the Museum’s collection of the influential work in Japanese illustration and animation
• Frazetta – selected illustrations and book covers by the flamboyant Frank Frazetta
• History – paintings, prints, and illustrations telling (and pointedly re-telling) the stories of major historical events
• Jessie Willcox Smith – classic scenes by the illustrator of fairy tales and childhood scenes
• Murals – large-scale, public works of narrative art by Judith F. Baca, Diego Rivera, and JR
• Narrative Forms – a series of galleries highlighting narrative art across genres of Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, and Science Fiction by artists including Julie Bell, Boris Vallejo, Ken Kelly, Georges Méliès, John C. Berkey, and Jeffrey Catherine Jones
• Parrish – lush, dreamy visions from the early 20th century by illustrator Maxfield Parrish
• Photography – powerful documentary images by Robert Capa, Gordon Parks, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Dorothea Lange, and others
• Rockwell – a selection of the Museum’s renowned holdings of works by premier American illustrator Norman Rockwell
• Wyeth – book illustrations from the 1910s through the 1940s by the incomparable N.C. Wyeth
• Western Stories – myths of the American West, including wagon trains, shoot-outs, frontier towns, and more

On top of all of these exhibits, there are also gardens with beautiful views of the museum outside. In the gardens, there are some incredible statues. This includes a statue of Leia defeating Jabba the Hutt, Padmé Amidala fighting off the Nexu on Geonosis, and Yoda with Grogu. The outdoor space is beautiful, calm, and a great place to just relax and enjoy the surroundings.

The Experience

As I have said a few times in this post, there is a LOT to see and experience at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Along with the exhibits and gardens, there are also theaters and a library. There are many different ways to experience this museum. A day could be spent watching films in one theater or documentaries in another. A day could be spent dedicated to checking out things related to the movies of George Lucas.

There are so many different experiences to be had in this museum, each from a different corner of George Lucas’s brain. It really is a testament to his genius. It is also a fantastic way to preserve his legacy, beyond the things he personally created. The museum shows the wide variety of interests and art that contributed to his thought process and creativity through the years. This is a museum that celebrates all the different parts of narrative art. It provides entry points to the world of museums for people with different interests and backgrounds. From the classics to comic books, there are so many connecting points that can lead to other interests within the realm of narrative art. Who knows what could ultimately come out of those leads. Perhaps the next George Lucas will be inspired when visiting to check out one interest and discovering another.

Final Thoughts

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art really is an instant treasure. This is a museum where a membership makes sense. It is impossible to take it all in during the course of one visit. The way to do it is to take in a part of the museum during multiple visits and not be overwhelmed. The museum itself is a beautiful architectural icon that inspires possibility. What’s inside continues the building’s message. This is a new museum that was funded by Lucas and Hobson, much like classic museums in the United States that were funded by the likes of J.P Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, or John D. Rockefeller. It is a gift to society that will be enjoyed by millions through the years, myself included. I can’t wait to go back.

More information, tickets, and memberships can be found at https://lucasmuseum.org/.