A fight to find the site for a museum containing the film-maker George Lucas's personal collection of Star Wars memorabilia could turn intergalactic. Three US cities are now vying for the privilege of housing the planned Lucas Cultural Arts Museum, after the Star Wars creator's preferred San Francisco location declined his proposal.

The museum would be devoted to populist American art and storytelling from the past 150 years, and based on Lucas's collection of art and artefacts, which includes original works by the painters Norman Rockwell, NC Wyeth and Maxfield Parrish, as well as the original costumes for Darth Vader, Chewbacca et al. Lucas plans to spend $300m (£176m) building the museum, and to leave a further $400m endowment after his death. The problem, however, is where to put it.