In the early 1850s, Clifton and the surrounding area were settled largely by Norwegian immigrants. At one point Clifton was believed to be the largest Norwegian community West of the Mississippi River. But Germans came to Clifton as well – settling primarily east of town across the Bosque River near present-day Womack.

The Germans established a German Evangelical church in Womack, which today is a non-denominational church –Zions United Church. Two Lutheran churches – one Norwegian, one German – remain in Clifton.

The Bosque Museum enshrines the county’s rich history – including its immigrant story – with exhibits dedicated to its pioneer families, firearms, textiles, furniture, and education.

Since 1954, the award-winning Bosque Museum has been a “must see” ever-evolving cultural history location housing artifacts and resources representing every stage of the county’s historic and prehistoric past.

The museum had its origins in 1924, when Norwegian pioneer Jacob Olson bequeathed his enormous collection of artifacts and memorabilia to the former Clifton Lutheran College; with the provision the collection never leave Bosque County. When the college closed in 1954, the collection became the foundation of today’s Bosque Museum. The 1866 Jacob Olson log cabin was reconstructed on museum grounds in 1985 and received a Texas Historical Marker. It remains a popular attraction on tours for old and young alike.