Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam or Old World Wall is a dam on the Colorado River It lies on the border between the former U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada and serves as a major location for events in the Mojave Wasteland.

Background
One of the wonders of the Old World, Hoover Dam crosses the Colorado River, impounding Lake Mead to the north. The structure served as one of the most substantial sources of electrical power in the region before and after the war, protected with anti-aircraft weapons. When the Great War first broke out, some of Mr. House's networked mainframes and laser systems kept the Hoover Dam in almost untouched condition, along with a majority of Las Vegas. Afterward, the plant was abandoned and left to the elements for nearly two centuries. The Followers of the Apocalypse mentioned the continued existence of Hoover Dam as early as 2170, and in 2274, Hoover Dam was occupied by the New California Republic during their Mojave Campaign.

The Mojave chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel had plans to claim the dam, but became sidetracked at HELIOS One. In the meantime, NCR scouts arrived at Hoover Dam, causing Mr. House to spur into action at the sign of civilization. House worried about the independence of his new city's power source, but the arrival of Caesar's Legion in the region meant that the NCR could not take the dam and the Strip without leaving them vulnerable to the Legion. Mr. House and the NCR drew up the Treaty of New Vegas, resulting in 95% of the dam's power output going to the NCR, and in return Vegas' sovereignty. Within a year of the treaty, the NCR had the dam running at 50% capacity. Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 458: "Controversy over the Vegas Frontier The NCR spread east into Nevada in large numbers just five years ago on a 'humanitarian mission' to 'bring the light of civilization to the savage wastes of the Mojave.' Hoover Dam was the symbol of the expedition-reports from the Followers of the Apocalypse had confirmed that it was still intact as early as 2170-and its occupation by NCR troops in 2274 was a celebrated event. Even more exciting was the restarting of the dam's hydroelectric plant eleven months later, which dramatically improved the access of many NCR citizens to electricity and water. ''Since then, most of the news has been bad. Skirmishes with local tribes and the first battle for Hoover Dam have cost the lives of more than 400 of the NCR's soldiers and civilians. Until the oft-promised annexation of New Vegas becomes a reality, the government continues to spend much of its budget on 'safeguarding the region' while in return receiving not one Cap in tax revenue. The expedition has proved to be an enduring, low-intensity political embarrassment for President Kimball.'' ''Among NCR citizens, the most common political attitude is impatience. They want Vegas annexed; they want it over with. Most expect that this will finally occur once Caesar's Legion has been 'beat for good.' Opposition to the Vegas occupation amounts to a vocal minority, and of these, most oppose it as a waste of lives and tax caps. The more radical opinion that the expedition amounts to the imperialist subjugation of an unwilling territory is seen as unpatriotic: the kind of pap spouted by the good-for-nothing agitators like those Followers of the Apocalypse."'' (Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide/Behind the Bright Lights & Big City)

First Battle of Hoover Dam
In 2277, the Legion, led by the Malpais Legate, attempted to take Hoover Dam, but were defeated shortly after by Chief Hanlon, alongside NCR Rangers and First Recon sharpshooters, who performed a tactical retreat, placing explosives ahead of time to lead and trap the Legion's elite forces in Boulder City, springing the trap and detonating the town and everyone in it. The result was General Oliver able to both successfully hold the dam and push back the Legion's main force.

To weigh the events in favor of the Republic, Colonel Cassandra Moore and General Lee Oliver have fortified the dam and stationed a significant military presence here to once again face the Legion. While troopers are active here, there are also a large number of civilian contractors and engineers who are trying to keep the dam running as smoothly as possible.

Layout


Hoover Dam covers a large area with extensive exterior and interior sections, despite there only being one map marker for the entire location. Following the Colorado River downstream (or coming upstream from Cottonwood Cove), the player character will encounter a pontoon barrier.

Loot

 * Hoover Dam snow globe - On the central reception desk in the visitor center.
 * Two Chinese Stealth Armors - In the offices' radioactive barrel storage, in the middle stack of crates.
 * President Kimball's suit - Can be looted off his corpse if he dies during the quests Arizona Killer or You'll Know It When It Happens.
 * General Oliver's uniform - Can be looted off his corpse during the quest Veni, Vidi, Vici and No Gods, No Masters.
 * 12 frag grenades - In a locker in intake tower 2.
 * Hoover Dam saferoom key - One found in each of the three desks in a large T-shaped room between the central and eastern wings of Hoover Dam offices, with another being found in a desk in the room directly to the right after entering through the Hoover Dam power plant 01 door. Opens a saferoom in the second floor of the visitor center that contains nothing of interest.
 * Elaine's letter - Next to a bed in the soldiers' quarters around the corner from Quartermaster Bardon, in the Hoover Dam offices.

Appearances
Hoover Dam appears only in Fallout: New Vegas, and is mentioned in its add-ons Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues, and Lonesome Road.

Behind the scenes

 * The Hoover Dam is a real-world location of the same name, a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona.
 * Many sections and landmarks of the real world Hoover Dam are seen in-game, including the visitor center's Winged Figures of the Republic sculptures.
 * The maps of the Hoover Dam scattered around the Mojave are blueprints created in the 1930s and can be seen in the University of Nevada Las Vegas Digital Collections.
 * On the side of one of the stone guard towers is grafitti reading, "LEGION GO HOME." This is a reference to the film Monty Python's Life of Brian wherein the main character writes "Romanes eunt domus" grammatically incorrect for "Romans, go home."
 * During the battle at Hoover Dam, most non-player characters wear masks. Joshua Sawyer explained it was an attempt to reduce memory usage and FaceGen/FaceFX expense.
 * A cut note from Fallout 3 refers to the dam being sabotaged.