diff --git a/uxarray/grid/grid.py b/uxarray/grid/grid.py
index a09522cc9..179138831 100644
--- a/uxarray/grid/grid.py
+++ b/uxarray/grid/grid.py
@@ -231,6 +231,34 @@ def __from_vert__(self, dataset):
                 "start_index": 0
             })
 
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dataset(cls, dataset, latlon=True, use_dual=False):
+        if not isinstance(dataset, xr.Dataset):
+            raise ValueError
+
+        # determine grid/mesh specification
+        mesh_spec = _parse_grid_type(dataset)
+
+        if mesh_spec == "Exodus":
+            grid_ds, var_encoding = _read_exodus(dataset)
+        elif mesh_spec == "Scrip":
+            grid_ds, var_encoding = _read_scrip(dataset)
+        elif mesh_spec == "UGRID":
+            grid_ds, var_encoding = _read_ugrid(dataset)
+        elif mesh_spec == "MPAS":
+            grid_ds, var_encoding = _read_mpas(dataset, use_dual=use_dual)
+        elif mesh_spec == "Shapefile":
+            # TODO: Not supported, add appropriate exception
+            raise ValueError
+        else:
+            pass
+
+        pass
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_vertices(cls, vertices, latlon=True):
+        pass
+
     # load mesh from a file
     def __from_ds__(self, dataset):
         """Loads a mesh dataset."""
diff --git a/uxarray/io/_exodus.py b/uxarray/io/_exodus.py
index 5b83e4dd6..3e07ccc1c 100644
--- a/uxarray/io/_exodus.py
+++ b/uxarray/io/_exodus.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 
 # Exodus Number is one-based.
-def _read_exodus(ext_ds, grid_var_names):
+def _read_exodus(ext_ds):
     """Exodus file reader.
 
     Parameters: xarray.Dataset, required
diff --git a/uxarray/io/utils.py b/uxarray/io/utils.py
index ce5317486..cfd05173f 100644
--- a/uxarray/io/utils.py
+++ b/uxarray/io/utils.py
@@ -24,17 +24,17 @@ def _parse_grid_type(dataset):
     """
     # exodus with coord or coordx
     if "coord" in dataset:
-        mesh_type = "exo"
+        mesh_type = "Exodus"
     elif "coordx" in dataset:
-        mesh_type = "exo"
+        mesh_type = "Exodus"
     # scrip with grid_center_lon
     elif "grid_center_lon" in dataset:
-        mesh_type = "scrip"
+        mesh_type = "Scrip"
     # ugrid topology
     elif _is_ugrid(dataset):
-        mesh_type = "ugrid"
+        mesh_type = "UGRID"
     elif "verticesOnCell" in dataset:
-        mesh_type = "mpas"
+        mesh_type = "MPAS"
     else:
         raise RuntimeError(f"Could not recognize dataset format.")
     return mesh_type