Roundup near Fort Davis Texas Chuck Wagon and Cook Foreground 1929 Real Photo Postcard

Cattle drives were a fundamental aspect of American Western history, facilitating the movement of vast herds from ranches to distant railheads and markets from the mid-19th century into the early 20th century. The chuck wagon, pioneered by Charles Goodnight in 1866, was a crucial innovation for these operations, serving as a mobile kitchen and supply hub that sustained cowboys through weeks or months on the trail. It provided not only food but also essential supplies, equipment, and a central gathering point for the crew.