The grounds we know of today as Orchard Lake St. Mary's began as the private home of General Joseph Tarr Copeland. Shortly after returning from his Civil War service as a cavalry commander in the Union Army, Copeland converted the home into The Orchard Lake Hotel. The Hotel closed in 1877 due to a national depression. When the hotel property became available Joseph Sumner Rogers, also a Civil War veteran gathered a few prominent Detroit investors and purchased the property for a military academy. The Michigan Military Academy opened in 1877 and closed in 1908.

The music playing (if your browser is set to play music) is the MMA Adjutant March composed by cadet George W. Curtis (class of 1902).