Explore Bangkok’s Jim Thompson House Museum: An Immersing and Enigmatic Experience
The Jim Thompson House is one of Bangkok’s popular cultural attractions that provides a look into the unique world of Thai silk and South Asian artefacts. Formerly the home of Jim Thomson, the founding figure of Thailand’s silk industry, this quaint museum carries a wealth of intriguing information and gives visitors a unique look into the interests of one of Thailand’s most prominent figures.
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About Jim Thompson
Jim Thompson is widely renowned for revolutionising the silk industry in Thailand after having identified where the country’s best silk weaving could be found. After providing local artisans with better opportunities to continue their tradecraft, Thompson created a thriving silk business that took the local silk industry to the world.
What is more intriguing to modern travellers is the mysterious disappearance of Thompson in 1967 during a fishing trip with friends. Despite multiple searches over the years, the fate of Thompson has remained a mystery.
What to Expect
The Jim Thomson Museum was initially constructed in 1958 so that Thompson could display the unique collection of artefacts he had obtained from across Southeast Asia. The collection includes ornaments, statues, and of course several silk items and products.
In addition to the artefacts, visitors can admire the building’s architectural and interior features, incorporated by Thompson himself who was an architect. These include Western-style bathrooms, Italian marble tiles, wooden floors and slanted walls.
Getting to the Museum
Since visiting the museum is one of the best things to do in Bangkok, it is easily accessible through most modes of transport, especially if you are staying at nearby accommodations like Maitria Residence Rama 9 Bangkok. You can reach the museum by taxi, water taxi, the Metro and BTS lines, or a guided tour.
Times to Visit
You can visit the museum every day between 10 am and 6 pm. The last tour is usually available at 5 but you’ll want to arrive around half an hour before to get yourself a place. No reservations need to be made for a tour; instead, you’ll be allocated a spot once you buy your ticket.
