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In 1962, Thompson was accused of having five stolen Buddha heads in his possession. To get there via BTS, take the train to the National Stadium station on the Silom line. From there, take Exit 1 and walk straight for about 5-10 minutes until you reach Soi Kasemsan 2.
How much is the entrance to Jim Thompson House Bangkok?
These items often feature traditional Thai designs and are made from the high-quality silk for which Jim Thompson is renowned. Jim Thompson was an American who settled in Thailand after World War II. The Jim Thompson House is one of Bangkok's top attractions for a number of reasons. Thompson was an architect and designer, so he purposefully constructed his house from wooden panels and walls taken from old structures throughout Thailand.
The Jealous Lover Theory
The group was staying at the Moonlight Cottage, a resort owned by one of Thompson's acquaintances. He was the youngest of six children, and grew up in a family that valued education and travel. After graduating from college, Thompson worked as an architect in New York and later as a military intelligence officer during World War II. We are your ultimate guide to discovering the city of Bangkok – the most vibrant and exciting place in Thailand.
Art and Antiques:
Knowledgeable guides provide insights into the history of Jim Thompson, the architecture of the house, and the art collection. The jungle-surrounded former home and art collection of legendary silk entrepeneur Jim Thompson, who mysteriously disappeared in 1967. The Jim Thompson house quickly became a social hub for friends old and new. More importantly, Thompson filled it with a collection of Thai art and antiques that was unprecedented in scope. He saw these acquisitions as a gift to his new country and planned to leave them to the royally sanctioned Siam Society.
History:
How the estate of Thailand's missing 'Silk King' was among the winners of Reagan's 1986 Tax Reform Act - Art Newspaper
How the estate of Thailand's missing 'Silk King' was among the winners of Reagan's 1986 Tax Reform Act.
Posted: Sun, 08 Jan 2017 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Jim Thompson was an American entrepreneur credited with repairing the Thai silk industry. That doesn’t sound so exciting, but his story could be one straight out of Hollywood. The mysterious disappearance of a high-profile millionaire, the murder of his sister, CIA involvement—what more do you need? Conspiracy theories abound, but as of yet, the mystery of Jim Thompson’s disappearance in 1967 remains unsolved.
By the late 1950’s, his collection was so extensive that he built a place to house his splendid antique collection. In 1959, Thompson’s famous House on the Klong, made up of six old teak wood houses in Bangkok (Banh Krua) and Ayutthaya province (Pak Hai), was completed. The house, which was once Thompson's residence, has been beautifully restored and converted into a museum that showcases Thompson's collection of Southeast Asian art and artifacts. Today, Jim Thompson's legacy is preserved through the Jim Thompson House, a museum and cultural center located in the heart of Bangkok. However, despite extensive searches and investigations, no evidence of his fate has ever been found. As a result, his disappearance remains one of the most enduring mysteries in Southeast Asian history.

Furthermore, his disappearance occurred during a time of heightened political tension and instability in the region. However, as with all theories regarding his disappearance, there is no concrete evidence to support this possibility. There is speculation that Jim Thompson may have been killed by a business rival due to his success in the Thai silk industry.
Adding to the mystery, Thompson’s older sister was murdered in her Pennsylvania home a few months after he disappeared. Although no one knows if the event is related, that case also remained unsolved. After beginning his career as an architect, Thompson quit and joined the Delaware National Guard. The lust for more excitement wasn’t too surprising given that his grandfather was James H. Wilson, the Union general whose men captured Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
Pretty well all tuk-tuk and taxi drivers will know the Jim Thompson House. You’ll have to fight for them to use the meter, or in the case of taking tuk-tuks, you’ll have to negotiate a better fare before agreeing to go. The BTS Skytrain station nearest to the Jim Thompson House is National Stadium, although you can easily get there by walking 20 minutes from the main Siam BTS station.
Jim Thompson Heritage Quarter: a lifestyle destination in the heart of Bangkok that leaves one in awe - TravelDailyNews Asia-Pacific
Jim Thompson Heritage Quarter: a lifestyle destination in the heart of Bangkok that leaves one in awe.
Posted: Fri, 17 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The company's silk fabrics were used to create clothing, upholstery, and other high-end products that were sought after by customers around the world. Having visited his house in Bangkok twice, I can assure you that it's definitely worth the trip. Besides the impact he left on Thailand and his impressive collection of artwork, the enigma surrounding his disappearance is intriguing. In addition to the art and antiques, the Jim Thompson House also houses a gallery showcasing various aspects of Thai silk production. The last—and perhaps most romantic theory—is that Jim Thompson simply had enough and walked away from his empire. Although Thompson was wealthy and successful, he may have wanted to “retire” simply by living in secret with less notoriety.
It is also worth noting that Thompson was not the only American living in Thailand at the time who had connections to the CIA. According to this theory, the jilted lover may have killed Thompson out of jealousy or revenge. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this theory, and it remains just one of several possibilities. Thompson's success in the silk business earned him a reputation as a shrewd businessman and savvy entrepreneur. He was known for his attention to detail and his commitment to quality, and was widely respected in both Thai and international business circles.
But the real test of his personal transformation was how he handled a blow to his pride, similar to the ones that turned him away from his life in New York. “It disturbed me that production of this wonderful material had stopped,” Thompson told TIME. Perhaps to emphasize Thompson’s unlikely ascendance, TIME wrote that he started with a $700 investment in the late 1940s and by 1957 was making $650,000 in annual silk sales. According to some reports, Chalermsak was questioned by authorities and initially claimed that he had seen Thompson heading into the jungle alone and that he had waited for him to return, but Thompson never did. However, some investigators have raised doubts about Chalermsak's account, as it reportedly changed over time and contained inconsistencies. If he had become lost or separated from his guide, it is possible that he could have been rescued, as search and rescue efforts were launched soon after his disappearance.
It didn’t help that multiple professional ‘clairvoyants’ claimed to know his whereabouts. He grew up in Delaware and attended Princeton, taking architecture courses at the University of Pennsylvania before practicing architecture in New York under fellow Princetonian Arthur Cort Holden. Thompson networked with his parents’ society friends–offering up his expertise for home design–and indulged in hobbies like hunting and breeding bantams. On the surface, he was living a charmed life, but his letters tell a slightly more frustrating story. For those interested in learning more about Thompson's life and legacy, a visit to the Jim Thompson House is a must-see experience.
Thompson's approach to silk production was revolutionary at the time, as he sought to modernize and streamline the production process while still maintaining the traditional methods and high quality of Thai silk. Jim Thompson had a passion for art and collecting, and his house is filled with a remarkable collection of Southeast Asian art and antiques. The most realistic of theories explaining Thompson’s disappearance is that he was accidentally killed in a hit-and-run accident by a local. Seeing that Thompson was a rich, well-known Westerner, the person driving may have covered up the accident for fear of harsh punishment by local authorities. Jim Thompson had left his cigarettes and other personal affects at home, possibly proving that he didn’t intend to be gone for long. Depending on how busy the museum is, you may be given a time to return for your tour; be back 10 minutes early.