Supposedly retired filmmaker George Lucas has an extensive collection of art and film memorabilia, built up from his decades in the movie business. What he didn't have — until now — is somewhere to show that collection off to the public. Lucas has spent the last two years putting together plans for a museum that would house his treasures. Today, he announced that the center, known as the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, would be built in Chicago.

The location is something of a surprise. It was expected that San Francisco would be chosen as the museum's home by virtue of Lucas' close ties to the city: both Lucasarts and Industrial Light & Magic call the city's Presidio region home. Indeed, Lucas submitted plans to the Presidio Trust, which manages the area, last year. But the trust derailed Lucas' plans, offering him a smaller site than requested, despite support from many of the city's politicians.