The Brandywine River Restoration Trust (BRRT) is dismantling Dam 6, or the DuPont Experimental Station Dam, on the Brandywine River as part of its broader restoration project, writes Johnny Perez-Gonzalez for WHYY.
The Brandywine River powered Delaware’s industrial rise in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Eleven dams reshaped the flow to fuel local mills.
Centuries later, the dams no longer fulfill their purpose, but they still pose a barrier to the river’s health.
Talks about removing the dams began in the 1970s. However, the first was only removed in 2019, when the City of Wilmington dismantled the 115-year-old Dam 1.
Now, BRRT is dismantling Dam 6, built in 1839, removing the center section while leaving portions on each side to preserve its story.
“So we will be putting in signage at the side of the dam that explains the history with a link to our website,” said Jim Shanahan, executive director of BRRT. “And on our website, we will have information describing the dam and its history and its use.”
Through its restoration project, BRRT aims to restore fish migration, improve water quality, and reconnect the Brandywine River.
Read more about the Brandywine River Restoration Trust and the organization’s recent plans to dismantle Dam 6 in WHYY.
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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on VISTA Today in September 2025.
