Touring Lucasfilm HQ (Part 1)

by Bill Cable
on 2026-09-23, 10:36:27

So about a year ago I learned I was gonna be in the San Francisco area for a collector get-together. This would be my first ever visit to "NoCal" and it quickly dawned on me it'd be a perfect opportunity to finally visit Lucasfilm headquarters at the Presidio. I've seen other collectors share that they've done the tour, but never had any idea how they got invited. I've been working with Lucasfilm on PSWCS.org charity fundraisers and Star Wars Celebration projects for many, many years... so I figured what the hell, I'll just ask. And much to my delight, a group of us were granted a tour. Lesson learned: I should have asked much, much sooner!

The invitation was extended to members of the PSWCS.org charity board, so we met at the Yoda Fountain about 30 minutes before our tour, because of course we had to take photos! One thing that was really amazed was a tree next to the fountain full of hummingbirds who drank from and bathed in the fountain.

As soon as we entered the lobby we started shooting photos. I'd always heard you're not allowed to take photos on the tour, so this was our only chance...

Once we started the tour we were informed that actually yes, you can take photos! Just no videos. Shocking everybody. So buckle up buttercup for a photo dump! Immediately past the security desk there was a selection of movie posters and original artwork. I snapped a couple photos.

Next we entered the employee break area. They had a big rotating enclosed display, and the theme they had going on was The Mandalorian and Grogu screen-used costumes and props. They also had an exact replica of Groru molded from the production molds and put together by the prop team.

We walked through the cafeteria over to the coffee bar - the famous Java the Hutt.

At the back of the break room they had some pretty cool mock-ups of the TIE Fighter crash from the sequel trilogy. Used to help map out the debris action for rendering.

We returned to the door and started heading down a hallway. On the left was a timeline of Lucasfilm history. Our guide told us it'd take about 45 minutes to read it all, so we probably shouldn't. The key element was a decade-by-decade display box of era-specific collectibles and media.

On the opposite was were the only two film-used props on display from the Original Trilogy. There was a TIE Fighter model, and the blue armature used for effects shots (with a newer TIE Fighter for demonstration).

Past those on right side was a massive trophy case.

On the left was this impressive vintage editing camera used to combine film shots for special effects... overlapping foregrounds onto backgrounds utilizing up to 5 layers. Before there were green screens you shot each element individually and this big honking thing combined them. A really cool piece of cinema history!

Soon we began passing the movie prop displays. A scanning model for Jurassic Park, screen-used props and concept models for Back to the Future 2, props and stand-in models for Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, a battle-damaged ship from Starship Troopers, and the hero ships from a personal favorite film of mine - Galaxy Quest!

Our next stop was the Lucasfilm Animation wing, were we were presented with a couple very cool things. First of all, you might recognize this mural...

The second was a much cooler reveal. Dave Filoni confirmed two days ago that the Mortis Gods 'will be a test of Ahsoka Tano's own beliefs' in Ahsoka season 2, but we can confirmation they'd be important to the series two weeks ago. Our guide showed us this wall relief that had just arrived at the HQ:

Also super cool were these. You know how in the amazing Maul - Shadow Lord looked like these gorgeous living paintings? That's because they were actual paintings! And check out that little Loth-cat in the window...

The LFL Animation team looked so friendly, some of us really didn't want to leave...

Next up were some E.T. props, including this massive mural they poked holes into for LED lights so the city could twinkle in the shot.

Wooo... this is a lot of photos. So next we ran across a sequel screen-used R2-D2, and production replica of Yoda, and a lightsaber.

These Scoleri Brothers were made for Planet Hollywood, but the thin one's head and Slimer's head are both screen-used.

ILM decided it didn't need a bigger boat when these sceen-used models work suffice for Cocoon and Star Trek...

Next up some screen-used props from Disney+ live-action TV...

Now these were very interesting. Two screen-used Stormtrooper costumes from pick-up shots for the Special Editions. As a member of the 501st who costumes as a TK, I noticed some significant differences from the approved costumes. The torso button were painted black, for example. I took a bunch of photos of one of them, just in case some motivated costumer wants to add a Special Edition version to the CRL.

Next up a prop and few reference models for the sequels (and maybe Mondo on those Anzellans).

And finally, some various screen-used and promotional and "for fun" droids, and a replica of a 1970's work desk for a designer working on Star Wars.

And I'm not even done yet! I got half-again as many photos from the tour that I still need to process. So check back for those next week!