Exposition Park buzzed with anticipation late Sunday morning. Under the unrelenting Los Angeles sun, children and adults from the South Central community eagerly awaited the opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on its preview day, wearing outfits ranging from Star Wars shirts to full-blown costumes. 

The museum held a soft opening for its surrounding community, with free tickets for 90037 ZIP code residents. The event offered an early look at the museum’s exhibits, which include collections of art by Norman Rockwell, Jack Kirby, Banksy and more.

Founded by George Lucas, creator of “Star Wars,” and his wife, Mellody Hobson, the museum heavily features elements from the franchise, such as costumes, set pieces and dioramas. Notable displays include the original R2-D2 and C-3PO models, along with the costumes of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker.

Michelangelo Davalos, a South Central resident, said that the Lucas Museum is not only a memoir of the film franchise, but also an inspiration for the younger generation.

“There’s gonna be a lot of kids attending this, so they’re gonna see all this cool stuff, and be like, ‘Wow! If somebody can do this, I can also do this.’ I wish I had these museums when I was growing up,” Davalos said. “I just had the movies, but now I get to see the making of it.”

The Lucas Museum is the newest cultural hub opening in Los Angeles’s Exposition Park, joining the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum and the California African American Museum. 

Betsy Sichi, a volunteer at the California Science Center, brought her husband Steve Sichi to the preview day. She said her excitement for the museum’s opening came from her being both a “Star Wars” fan and someone who has worked with space systems. 

“It’s beautiful,” Betsy Sichi said. “I love the art. I can see myself coming back again and again. … I can see tourists coming and spending money in the local economy. It’s so exciting to have this here.”

Construction for the museum began in 2018, and faced various delays in opening due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Isabella Cardona, a South Central resident, said she was impressed by the progress that she has seen firsthand.

“[The museum] is really nice,” Cardona said. “I’ve seen it being constructed, and I live super close, so it’s really cool seeing the progress. … I’ve seen the lines get super long here, so I think it’s a nice opportunity to draw attention [to Exposition Park].”

Rebecca Haussling, vice president of communications and public affairs at Wellnest, a South Central-based organization offering emotional well-being services, said that the museum’s role in the neighborhood has created a precedent for art being accessible to all.

“[The museum] is going to have a huge impact. There’s going to be a long-term legacy for the community,” Haussling said. “Wellnest offered our space for a job fair [for the museum], so it was really fun to see all the applicants coming in and out with the enthusiasm that they had. But I think, as George Lucas shared today, art should be accessible to everyone.”

Preview day opened with a performance by Drummers of Compton, a group that is part of the 1 Shine Youth Center, a nonprofit organization. The center focuses on providing arts opportunities to youth in the broader Compton area. 

Terence Barry, the nonprofit’s co-founder and co-director, said the museum is a positive influence on the community and fosters unity.

“Working with young people and some adults who don’t get the opportunity to have exposure to different forms of art is very important because a lot of people are afraid to express themselves creatively,” Barry said. “Art speaks to everybody, no matter [your] background, and brings people together if you utilize it the right way. This is a perfect opportunity to bridge gaps and make us more of a community.”