Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
DETAILS:
Location: One Lucas Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90037
Hours : Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday 10A to 5P (closed on Tuesday) / Friday 10A to 9P / Saturday 9A to 9P / Sunday 9A to 5P
Last visitor entry, 45 minutes before closing.
Research Library hours: Open at 10 AM and closes one hour before the museum.
Park & Gardens hours: Open at 8 AM and closes at sunset.
Reservations for Skywalker Grill can be made here.
Parking: $20 per day, or $24 if you enter after 5P
The underground Orange Garage and Red Garage on the Lucas Museum campus can be accessed from Bill Robertson Lane, south of Exposition Boulevard. ADA spots are available for vehicles with visible ADA placards. Electric vehicle charging spots are available for guests using the chargers.
Free street parking available in surrounding neighborhood. Please observe posted street parking signs.
Cost: Adults $25 / Seniors $21 / Children 2 & under and Active military are free (tickets and availability can be viewed and purchased here)
Time Commitment: 2+ hours
Additional and current info can be found on their website.
The first thing that struck me about visiting the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is that the building is worth the trip by itself. Designed by renowned architect Ma Yansong of MAD Architects, it looks like something that shouldn’t quite exist in the real world. The sweeping curves, futuristic shape, and almost floating appearance make it feel like a spaceship that somehow landed in Exposition Park. The design takes inspiration from natural landscapes, bridges, and the idea of a vessel carrying stories through time. But once you step inside, you’ll quickly realize the building is just the beginning of what makes this place so special.
The museum opens up into a fascinating world of storytelling told through art. The collection explores how people have shared stories, ideas, and emotions throughout history, using everything from traditional paintings and illustration to photography, comics, film-related imagery, myths, folklore, and pop culture. There’s a lot to take in, and part of the fun is discovering how many different ways there are to tell a story visually. It must be noted that if you’re coming primarily to see George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away, please know that Star Wars is only a small portion of the museum’s overall exhibition. The real estate is hardly dedicated to lightsabers and the force. It’s a much bigger celebration of storytelling, imagination, and the art that brings ideas to life. That’s actually what makes it so interesting. You can go from exploring familiar pop culture to discovering artwork and visual traditions you might never have encountered otherwise. And please don’t make the mistake of spending your entire visit indoors! The outdoor gardens and landscaped areas are part of the experience, too. They give you a chance to appreciate the building from different angles, wander through the greenery, and take a breather before diving back into the galleries. The transition between the museum’s futuristic architecture and its natural surroundings is truly impressive.
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts is so much more than another place to look at art. It’s an ambitious, wonderful celebration of imagination and the stories that connect us, wrapped inside a building that feels like a work of art itself. Whether you’re into architecture, movies, illustration, or just looking for something genuinely different to do in LA, this place is a spectacular addition to the Los Angeles landscape.
