Louisiana State University (LSU) and Agricultural & Mechanical College started from land grants given by the United States government in 1806, 1811 and 1827 for use as a seminary of learning. In 1853, the Louisiana General Assembly established the Seminary of Learning of the State of Louisiana near Pineville. The institution opened on January 2, 1860. As the Flagship institution of the state, Louisiana State University seeks to be a leading research-extensive university, challenging undergraduate and graduate students to attain the highest intellectual and personal development levels. Designated as a Land, Sea, and Space Grant institution, the LSU's mission is to generate, preserve, disseminate, and apply knowledge and cultivate the arts.