Historically, Parkersburg's rapid development can be attributed to its position at the junction of the Ohio and Little Kanawha Rivers. Steamboats and, later, rail transportation sealed the area's destiny as a successful community. In 1896, Parkersburg resident Gustavus Edward Smith produced images of Parkersburg on a newly developing novelty, the picture postcard. The first in West Virginia, these picture postcards were created two years before the cards were even legally recognized by the United States Postal Service. At the turn of the 20th century, as citizens were enjoying Parkersburg's business, political, and social atmosphere, the postcards industry was thriving on the public's demand for likenesses of interesting buildings,
streets, parks, events, and even disasters.