Chicago wins bid for George Lucas museum

CHICAGO -- Chicago will be home to the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. 'Star Wars' creator George Lucas isn't just bringing Yoda and Chewbacca to Chicago, but a collection that ranges from Norman Rockwell paintings to digital art, movie animations costumes and more.

"Kids are able to do pictures and illustrations with digital art, so a museum that shows you how you can actually do it - which ultimately for me not having grown up with this whole thing - is amazing," said George Lucas, filmmaker.

The competition came down to Chicago and San Francisco. But Lucas' hometown bungled its bid after the National Park Service panned a proposal to put it in the Presidio. Mayor Rahm Emanuel swooped in, offering a prestigious lakefront location and working his relationship with Lucas' Chicago-based wife: Melody Hobson.

According to a release from the museum, the Chicago site was selected based on "its accessibility to public transportation, ease of access from all parts of the city, potential to create significant new green space, and its ability to accommodate an iconic structure."

The mayor wants to locate the museum in the parking lots that currently stand between Soldier Field and McCormick Place. No doubt they're an eyesore, but Friends of the Parks and other organizations have vowed to fight the location, arguing it's a violation of the Lakefront Protection Ordinance which states there will be no further private development east of Lake Shore Drive.