Taft Tunnel

This is an escape tunnel from Jefferson Memorial. The exit point is a sewer grate outside the Citadel entrance, just south of the west point of Arlington Memorial Bridge. These tunnels were most likely used as areas where the government would perform secret tests(which would explain the labs) or used by chinese spies(which would explain all of the chinese items.)


 * The tunnel can't be reached before the final steps of the quest "The Waters of Life".


 * The upper and apparently unreachable floors with Enclave soldiers can be reached with careful barrel stacking and several strategic jumps. The exit point has a ladder and a sewer grate that doesn't work (you can open the ladder, then close it again if it pleases you). It seems unfinished.
 * This catwalk allows passage between the two high-vantage ambush points via a door to "Taft Tunnels" up in the "unreachable" level. If you haven't been to the second yet, this lets you ambush the ambushers!
 * See the image sequence below for the exact method.
 * If you are only after the loot (i.e. dropped Enclave Plasma Rifles), an easy way to get stuff is to throw grenades onto the balconies.
 * Note that Charon will be waiting at the door connecting the two parts of the area -on the side with the ladder to the Wasteland- should he disappear after the quest involving the rescue of the science team.

Notable Loot

 * Chinese Army: Special Ops Training Manual on the desk in the room when you first engage the Enclave Soldiers. There is also a Chinese Assault Rifle, a Chinese Jumpsuit and a Chinese Commando Hat next to the book.
 * Nuka-Cola Quantum in the second section of Taft Tunnel. Found after Dr. Li stops you for Garza, next to a portable generator sitting on top of a wooden picnic table.
 * Nikola Tesla and You behind the generator immediately next to the Nuka Cola Quantum.
 * Eyebot Helmet in the second room you are ambushed by Enclave Soldiers
 * A pair of Reading Glasses can be found next to the makeshift bedding in the room directly after you see the first non hostile Eyebot.

Inhabitants

 * The lower levels have a fair share of Feral Ghouls.
 * The floors above have many Enclave Soldiers.

Bugs

 * Sometimes when re-entering and exiting the Taft Tunnels after ther the Waters of Life quest, Dr. Li and her team of scientists may appear outside of the Citadel and next to the tunnel entrance.
 * On the Xbox360 when going through the door in the inaccesible area, Dr. Li, Daniel Agincourt and Alex Dargon may all appear in the second area of Taft Tunnels and act as if they were in the Citadel.
 * On the PS3, when you approach the sewer grate for the first time you may be attacked by a super mutant. If you kill the super mutant with an energy weapon and it becomes an ash pile on top of the sewer grate, you will not be able to enter the Taft Tunnels. Your game will be corrupted and will have to reload from an earlier save point.