How Long Does Beef Jerky ACTUALLY Stay Good?

On a long car ride or while pulling an all-nighter, few snacks hit like a good package of beef jerky. The tough, salty, sometimes spicy meat seems to last forever and never loses its kick. Once a necessity for our pioneer ancestors traveling across a tumultuous country, beef jerky remains a time-honored treat for anyone craving meat but not willing to cook it. So how did it become THE go-to snack of road trips throughout history?