Jim Thompson House, a worth visiting museum in Bangkok.
The Jim Thompson House is one of the less popular attractions in Bangkok and is rarely seen in brochures describing the Thai capital. However, in our opinion, this museum located in the heart of Bangkok is worth spending a few baths and sacrificing a couple of hours to learn about the extraordinary story of a man enamoured with Thailand. He chose to live here out of many possibilities.
Jim Thompson An American in love with Thailand
Jim was born in 1906 in Greenville, USA. He completed his first school there before starting his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where he became an architect. In this profession, he worked successfully in New York until the outbreak of the war in 1940.
As an adventurous individual, he volunteered for service in the OSS (Office of Strategic Services), later known as the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency). Along with a group of other soldiers, he was assigned to assist French units fighting in North Africa. Due to his excellent performance, his superiors planned new missions for him in Asia.
Before this, he underwent rigorous jungle training and excelled, receiving top marks. What he did during missions in Thailand, Laos, and other countries in the region remains unknown to this day. After the war, Jim struggled to readjust to life in the United States and returned to Asia.
Jim Thompson returns to Bangkok
After months of wandering through Thailand, Jim arrived in Bangkok, where he was enchanted by the culture and character of the city’s Thai inhabitants. He settled at The Old Oriental, the only hotel at the time that met international standards and served as a meeting place for travellers of all kinds.
It was there that he encountered famous individuals visiting Asia, such as Charlie Chaplin and Noel Coward, known for the film “The Italian Job” from 1969, starring Michael Caine.
During his stay at the hotel, Jim came to the conclusion that the world was on the verge of a major tourism boom, driven by increasingly popular and affordable airline offers. Moreover, he saw great potential in Thailand and predicted a bright future for the country, which he decided to be a part of.
Jim Thompson and his estate in Bangkok
As he decided, so he did. Soon, he bought his first house in Bangkok, where he began collecting souvenirs and artworks related to Thailand. Over time, his estate expanded to several houses set in a beautiful garden; today, there are eight of them, all containing a wealth of artwork, household items, books, and memorabilia belonging to the owner.
Since 1976, all of these houses have been open to visitors, and very friendly and well-informed guides will tell you many interesting stories about the place.
Collecting was not Jim’s only passion that he developed here. He was fascinated by silk production and the manufacturing of silk fabrics. Today, on his estate, many types of silk cocoons are cultivated, and from the obtained threads, beautiful shirts, scarves, and other goods are woven. You can admire them and, of course, buy them at the shop on the museum grounds.
The mysterious disappearance of Jim Thompson and a mystery that remains unsolved to this day
In 1967, Jim went on holiday with friends to Cameron Highlands, which we have already mentioned in Our Trails.
One day, he announced that he had the opportunity to acquire a remarkable Thai artifact lost centuries ago in Malaysia, after which he left the hotel and was never seen again. Perhaps he had less luck than us during our journey through the Malaysian jungle.
Jim Thompson House Practical information
Opening hours:
From 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Guided tours only.
Ticket price:
200 baht (approximately 25 Polish złoty).
How to get there:
We found it convenient to travel by water bus, but you can also take a tuk-tuk, taxi, or Sky Train.
Address:
Jim Thompson House
6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok
Tel: (662) 216-7368 Fax: (662) 612-3744
Jim Thompson House interesting facts
- Jim fell in love with Thailand during his stay here as part of a wartime campaign.
- Later on, Jim Thompson worked for the CIA.
- Jim’s collection consists of several traditional Thai houses.
- Collecting memorabilia from traditional Thailand was one of Jim’s favorite pastimes. To acquire new exhibits, he was known to travel across Asia.
- Famous people from the early 20th century used to gather at Thompson’s house. Among them was Charlie Chaplin.
- The Jim Thompson Museum opened in 1976.
- Excellent silk is still produced on Jim’s estate today, using traditional methods.
- In 1967, Jim Thompson disappeared in the forests of Cameron Highlands, and his fate remains unknown to this day.
You must be logged in to post a comment.