The force is about to get significantly stronger in Chicago. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, George Lucas has chosen the windy city as the site for his museum, called the Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts. The museum will contain $1 billion worth of memorabilia from Lucas’ private collection, including Norman Rockwell paintings, rare movie posters, and of course, props from the iconic Star Wars films.

The Tribune reports the site of the museum will be near Chicago’s “Museum Campus,” which includes such attractions as a planetarium and an aquarium. Lucas said in a statement, “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 and architecture.”

Many thought the 70-year-old filmmaker would choose San Francisco for the museum. In the statement, Lucas admitted Chicago was a “difficult decision for me personally because of my strong personal and professional roots in the Bay Area.” Lucas was born in Modesto, CA, and has spent much of his professional life in San Francisco. However, as Time reports, Lucas apparently gave up on building in that city when he was denied a waterfront location and subsequently was persuaded by Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel’s “aggressive” lobbying campaign. Chicago of course also has a personal draw; Lucas’ wife, Mellody Hobson, hails from the city and still lives there part-time.

The museum is expected to open in 2018.