This investigation traces the history of change in public higher education as it relates to its third mission, from the traditional service to the contemporary engagement. The article begins with the emergence of U.S. higher education institutions in the 1600s and documents the changes era by era to the present. In each era, higher education's third mission contributed what society needed and positioned the institution to receive the democracy's support and its financial resources. This investigation and a subsequent study creating a framework for third mission activities are steps toward wider understanding and appreciation of this important segment of higher education.