In West Virginia, steamboats ran on rivers like the Ohio, Kanawha, and Monongahela. There were three main types: packetboats (for passengers and light freight), ferryboats (for people and vehicles), and towboats (for pushing barges). Other types included showboats and excursion boats. Steamboats were popular for travel and shipping until trains took over in the 1920s. After that, packetboats disappeared, and stronger steel towboats and barges took their place.