Jim Thompson House
The Jim Thompson House is the home of James H.W. Thompson,
a self-made American entrepreneur who was the founder of the world
renowned Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company. Thompson's achievements during
his 25 year stay in the Kingdom of Thailand have won him much fame
as the "Legendary American of Thailand".
For his contribution to the development of the Thai Silk industry,
Jim Thompson was awarded the Order of the White Elephant, a decoration
bestowed upon foreigners for having rendered exceptional service to
Thailand. Thompson's success story in Thailand has become one of the
most popular postwar legends of Asia.
In 1967, Jim Thompson went on holiday with friends to the Cameron
Highlands in Malaysia. There he set out for a walk in the surrounding
jungle but never returned. Thus began the Jim Thompson legend.
Since his disappearance in 1967, little has changed in the home
that was the 'talk of the town' and the 'city's most celebrated
social center'. Even today, the charming Thai style house continues
to be a key stop for visitors to Bangkok.
The house consists of a complex of six traditional Thai-style houses,
teak structures that were purchased from several owners and brought
to the present location from various parts of Thailand. Construction
of the Thai house was completed in 1959.
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