On November 5, 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers was founded in New York City. Civil engineers are responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of dams, bridges, roads, canals, and railroads. Some of the first calls for a professional society of civil engineers came in 1828 when John Kilbourn created his short-lived Civil Engineering Journal. Inspired by Great Britain’s Institution of Civil Engineers, he suggested the US create its own organization.