Back in 2013, when I lived in Bangkok, I had more than enough time to go around the city and visit places that not so many tourists get to see, like the Fertility Shrine, as well as the more popular ones, like the Grand Palace.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to write up most of the places I’ve been — there’s just so many things to do in Bangkok that I wasn’t able to keep up!
Fortunately, I got to visit again last year, when the Tourism Authority of Thailand (Philippines) and Thai Airways brought some of us to Thailand. I saw a bit more of the country, including another chance to go to the Jim Thompson House.
Welcome to the Jim Thompson House
The Jim Thompson House, set at the end of a long road and surrounded by landscaped gardens, was owned by American businessman and art collector James H.W. Thompson. He was a prominent figure in his day; as the founder of a world-renowned luxury Thai silk company, he had the prestige, the wealth, and the connections to hold popular social gatherings in his beautiful home.
Today, the Jim Thompson House is considered a national treasure that’s worth visiting not only for its charm and beauty but also for the story and the man behind it.
One of Jim Thompson’s art collection.
Jim Thompson was an architect before World War II brought him to the shores of Thailand, where he served in the American intelligence community. When the war ended, and following his military discharge in 1946, he moved to Bangkok and took on a series of business ventures.
Thompson’s most successful business was silk weaving. From importing dyes and hiring villagers as weavers to introducing Thai silk to the international arena, he helped revive an almost-forgotten art and a dwindling industry through the Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company (which lowly backpackers like me can never afford!).
Jim Thompson had been in Thailand for more than two decades when he mysteriously disappeared in 1967 while out for a walk in the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. Years after his disappearance, his house and art collection were turned into a national museum.
The complex is beautifully landscaped.
Thompson’s house is actually a complex of six structures bought from all over Thailand and brought to Bangkok in 1958. They were already quite old, just restored and reassembled into one of the best examples of traditional Thai architecture.
The oldest (and largest) structure in the complex is the drawing room, which is actually an early 19th-century house from the Baan Krua Muslim community in Bangkok. The kitchen wing, which came from the same village, was once part of a mid-19th-century palace. And the living room was constructed from a 100-year-old house, also from Baan Krua.
Off limits to visitors.
You will get to set foot on structures from the province of Ayutthaya as well, including a 19th-century-house-turned-dining-room.
In putting his home together, Jim Thompson both preserved the local style and added a modern Western twist. Three sections, for example, are close replicas of the original houses. The bathrooms and staircase, traditionally found outdoors, were placed indoors.
The house actually comprises 6 structures from all over Thailand!
And instead of the usual open courtyard, the entrance hall and corridors were designed with a covered walkway. The façade, too, leads to a decked entry foyer, which isn’t a common feature in old Thai houses.
In addition, Thompson made sure to incorporate modern conveniences, including indoor plumbing and electricity.
Jim Thompson liked collecting pieces of art.
The compound’s layout and architecture is not the only thing that will impress you when you drop by. You also have Thompson’s Asian art and antique collection to look forward to. (Note, though, that you’re not allowed to take pictures inside the house, which is why I only have exterior photos!)
The collection includes paintings on paper, wood, and cloth. One of the houses, in fact, was built for the display of Thai paintings that date back to the 1860s and portray everyday scenes from traditional Thai life.
Thompson was also drawn to paintings depicting the legend of Prince Vessantara (who gave up his family and worldly possessions to reach enlightening) and the story of Buddha’s life and spiritual journey.
Cultural performances are held here.
Wall hangings from Buddhist temples will welcome you as you head upstairs. You’ll also come across Buddha images throughout the house, with most from Cambodia and Thailand and a few from Burma.
Among these are a limestone sculpture of Buddha’s torso, a sandstone statue of Buddha meditating on a serpent, and a limestone bust of Buddha.
A range of porcelain ware graces the house too, including the blue-and-white Chinese porcelain set on the dining table, the colorful and ornate Thai Benjarong pieces in the kitchen, Sukhothai and Sawankhalok ceramics, and Lopburi-Khmer pottery.
You will also get to see how they weave the silk.
Guided tours of the museum cost 150 baht (100 baht for students 22 years old and under). It opens at 9:00 a.m., with the last tour scheduled at 6:00 p.m. It is located opposite the National Stadium on Rama I, best reached via the BTS.
While you’re there, I also highly recommend their café and restaurant. You will enjoy dishes there that’s more palatable to tourists new to Thai cuisine (i.e., not too spicy).
Hungry? Make sure to eat at their restaurant!
If you have more than a few days in Bangkok, definitely include the Jim Thompson House in your itinerary. With its history, legacy, and fascinating architecture, it is definitely a must-see in the Thai capital.
Have you been to Bangkok? Would you include this in your itinerary?
12 Comments. Leave new
In the picture gallery there are watercolours , got from Dr Chandler, of scenes of everyday Thai life in the 1860’s such as “threshing rice”. Is it possible to get copies of these watercolours
I’ve been in Bangkok few years ago and I really loved it. So I will definately come back, thanks for sharing place I haven’t seen, for my Bangkok list for the future 🙂
I went to the restaurant for dinner (didn’t get to the house in time while it was open), and had a blast! I wish I got to see the house/museum itself – oh well, all the more reason to head back to Bangkok!
Really interesting to learn about a man I hadn’t heard of before now – but he sounds to have played a really big part in the community of Bangkok for the time he lived there until he disappeared. It’s nice that they turned his house into a museum to preserve his memory and collection of art and antiques. Thanks for the feature – I would love to visit 🙂
What a stunning home! I’m heading to Bangkok in about two weeks and this made me even more excited for my upcoming adventures. This looks like a nice destination to add to our list. It looks really beautiful – I would love to see the cultural presentations!
Thanks so much for this interesting article about the Jim Thompson House. I was in Bangkok, earlier this year, but run out of time and didn’t get a chance to visit the house. Did not realize his house is actually six structures from all over the country. Fascinating. The story about his disappearance is certainly very mysterious. Thanks for the preview of what I missed 🙂
Oh wow, I wish I knew about this place when I was in Thailand, a friend who traveled with me at the time would have loved this place. Well now I know the next time I go to Thailand Jim Thompson’s house will now be on the list
This area has so much history! I’ll admit that I’ve never heard of Jim Thompson before reading this, but I’m definitely curious to learn more! Especially, after reading he mysteriously vanished.. so weird!
What an interesting story and place to visit! Seems like a little garden oasis with a lot to explore! I’d be interested to see how the 6 different pieces fit together and flow. Thanks for sharing! We hope to visit Bangkok in the future and would definitely check this place out.
I live in Bangkok for 4 months and super close to Jim Thompson house but never had the chance to visit 🙁 Ill make sure to visit it next time. The architecture is so grand. Would love to see it 🙂 Also, I remeber there are a Jim thompson stores selling fine items(clothes etc). Super nice but so expensive 🙂
We actually wanted to visit the Jim Thompson house when we were in Bangkok some years ago, but then Songkran happened 😀 We want to go back next year though and then it’s definitly on the list 😀 Thank you for this great article!
This looks like a very interesting place to visit. I really like the overall architecture and the idea of bringing together different styles from different parts of the country. I can see why it’s considered to be a national treasure.
I haven’t been to Bangkok but when I do, this will be one of my stops for sure.