The St. Michaels Historic District encompasses the original town centre, a compact grid of streets lined with colonial, Federal, and Victorian buildings in remarkably good condition. The town avoided the development pressures that gutted many historic districts along the Eastern Shore, and walking the main streets — Talbot, Mulberry, Cherry — still feels like stepping into the 19th century.
The district is easily explored on foot in a couple of hours. Shops, galleries, and restaurants occupy many of the ground floors, and the architecture above them is often excellent. Several historic churches and the town wharf anchor the neighbourhood. The best approach is simply to wander rather than follow a formal tour.