The chuck wagon was the rolling kitchen for the cowboys trailing herds north from Texas or for round-up crews on cattle ranches.
The best wagon design is credited to Charles Goodnight who rebuilt a surplus Army wagon which had extra-durable iron axles and to which he attached a cubbyhole box with drawers at the back of the wagon facing the rear with a hinged lid that let down with a swinging leg to form a work table.
Other customary accessories included a large water barrel, a tool box and a canvas canopy cover.
The wagon carried all the cook's bulk supplies of food, pots, pans, skillets, utensils and first aid supplies, as well as the cowboys' bedrolls and personal gear.
Wagon manufacturers, including the Studebaker Company, began producing chuck wagons commercially and sold them for about $100.
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