The Jim Thompson House is the former Bangkok home of Jim Thompson, the American businessman who helped revitalize the Thai silk industry in the 1950s and 1960s. On March 26, 1967, Jim Thompson disappeared while on a visit to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. Not a single valid clue has turned up in the ensuing years as to what might have happened to him. His home remains a popular tourist attraction for visitors to Bangkok and is well worth a visit.
Thompson built his home from six different teak buildings that he brought to the site from various parts of Thailand. The houses are elevated a full story above the ground, a typical architecture technique of Thai homes as a precaution to avoid flooding during the rainy season. Most of his homes were at least two centuries old – even the chandeliers he used were from 18th and 19th century Bangkok palaces.
Fun Fact
Jim Thompson dedicated his life to organizing a network of artisans, helping to upgrade their looms, introducing new techniques and designs thereby enabling Thai weavers to create silks that would dazzle the world. Jim Thompson fabrics won a devoted following among interior designers, couturiers and creators of costumes for stage and screen. By the 1960s, Thai silk had become world renowned, creating a luxury craft industry that benefited thousands of families, just as Jim Thompson had envisaged.
The gardens are magnificent – complete with turtle ponds and floating lotus flowers as well as a spirit house – a shrine to the protective spirit of a home, place, business or temple. They are found in many Southeast Asian countries. The spirit house is normally in the form of a miniature house or temple, and is mounted on a pillar or on a dais. The house is intended to provide a shelter for spirits which could cause problems for the people if not appeased. The shrines often include images of people and animals. Votive offerings are left at the house to propitiate the spirits. Thompson had a passion for art and culture and so he incorporated pieces from all over the world into his home.
In order to see the home, a tour guide is required. The cost for the guide is included in the price of admission (100 baht). I’m fairly picky about my tour guides. I don’t like when they go on and on but this guide was fantastic! She was extremely informative, answered any questions and the tour went at a great pace.
Find It
Jim Thompson House
6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok
Located opposite the National Stadium on Rama I Rd.
Opening Hours : 09:00 to 17:00 (last Guided Tour at 17:00)
Admission : Adult 100 baht; Students 50 baht
Directions: SkyTrain to (W1) National Stadium Station (Silom Line). Take Exit 1 and go straight ahead to the end of Soi Kasemsan 2, Jim Thompson’s house is on left side.
http://www.jimthompsonhouse.com/
