Jim Thompson's House
 Jim Thompson, an American who was
born Greenville, Delaware, in 1906
practiced architect prior to World War
II, he volunteered for service in the
U.S. Army, campaigned in Europe, and
came to Asia as part of the force that
planned to liberate Thailand. However,
the war ended before the operation. He
arrived in Bangkok a short time later as
a military intelligence officer attached
to the O.S.S. After leaving the service,
he decided to return and live in
Thailand permanently.
The hand weaving of silk, a long
neglected cottage industry, captured Jim
Thompson's attention, and he devoted
himself to reviving the craft. Highly
gifted as a designer and textile
colorist, he contributed substantially
to the industry's growth and to the
worldwide recognition accorded to Thai
silk. He gained further known through
the construction of this house combining
six teak buildings which represented the
best of traditional Thai architecture.
Most of the houses were at least two
centuries old and were easily dismantled
and brought to the present site, some
from as far away as the old capital of
Ayutthaya.
In his quest for authenticity, Jim
Thompson adhered to the customs of the
early builders in most respects. The
houses were elevated a full story above
the ground, a practical Thai precaution
to avoid flooding during the rainy
season, and the roof tiles were fired in
Ayutthaya employing a design common
centuries ago but rarely used today. The
red paint on the outside walls is a
preservative commonly found on many old
Thai buildings. The chandeliers were
electrified as a concession to modern
convenience, but even they belong to a
past era, having come from 18th and 19th
century Bangkok palaces.
All the traditional religious procedures
were followed during construction of the
house, and on a date in the spring of
1959, decreed as being auspicious by
astrologers, Jim Thompson moved in. The
house and the art collection soon became
such a point of interest that he decided
to open it to the public with proceeds
donated to Thai charities and to
projects directed at the preservation of
Thailand's rich cultural heritage.
On March 27th 1967, Jim Thompson
disappeared while on a visit to the
Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. Not a
single clue has turned up in the ensuing
years as to what might have happened to
him. His famous Thai house, however,
remains as a lasting reminder of his
creative ability and his deep love of
Thailand. In 1976, the Thai Court
appointed administrator for the property
of Jim Thompson received permission from
government ministries of the Kingdom of
Thailand to legally establish the James
H W Thompson Foundation.
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