Located on the shores of lake Michigan east of Petoskey, the National Historic landmark Bay View is a blend of two uniquely American traditions, the camp meeting and cultural assembly.

Mary Jane Doerr, author of Bay View; An American Idea, explains why millions were drawn to the Bay View grounds to hear influential American speakers on its platform, why hundreds of nationally known women reformers came to Bay View each summer, how the Bay View Music Festival has come to be the oldest continuously operating festival in the U.S., and how the community provided the only college level classes in northern Michigan until 1959.

New information about Ernest Hemingway’s connection to the community is revealed along with the story of the Blanshard brothers. Paul Blanshard, the Great Unitarian, was an ardent supporter of the separation of church and state and developed his ideas living in this community.

Mary Jane Doerr has been a freelance writer for the Petoskey News-Review since 1979 as well as newspapers throughout Michigan and the US. She authored the Bay View chapter for the Little Traverse Historical Society publication, Historic Glimpses and is a member of the society's board. She has been a guest speaker at the Public Library's Carnegie Library Series, the Emmet County Genealogical Society, the Women's Club of Northern Michigan, PEO, Pan-Hellenic of Northern Michigan and the Bay View Woman's Council.

A member of the Bay View Association, Ms. Doerr owns a cottage in the historic district. Her mother, Jane Park Doerr, spearheaded the Bay View National Historic Landmark movement.  She will be available for book signings after the presentation.  Bay View An American Dream was the winner of the 2011 State History Award.