In 1933, Himmler initiated plans to establish a "Nordic Academy" to assist the instruction of the SS upper ranks.[16] He was assisted in this by Karl Maria Wiligut, an occultist who was popular in German ultra-nationalist circles.[16] Himmler brought Wiligut into the SS—where he eventually rose to the rank of Brigadeführer—and gave him a private villa in Berlin.[17] Using Wiligut's prophecies as his guide, Himmler selected Wewelsburg castle in Westphalia to serve as a base for many SS operations.[18] The architect Hermann Bartels was employed to oversee renovations to the castle to make it fit for the SS's use.[19] As part of these alterations, one of the rooms in the building became known as "the Grail Room" with a rock crystal representing the Holy Grail being placed in a central position.[19] Himmler also established a private museum at the castle, employing the young archaeologist Wilhelm Jordan to manage it.[19]