Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the former US states of Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936, located East of Boulder City.

Hoover Dam is still functioning in 2281, and is controlled by the New California Republic. According to the New Vegas Treaty between the New California Republic and Mr. House, the NCR must divert 5% of the electricity generated at the plant to New Vegas.

Layout
Access to the base of the dam is blocked off by a pontoon barrier when attempting to swim upriver toward it. Pontoons hold sections of chain link fence in place along the top of the water while weights keep the submerged ends in place and the whole structure taut. While it is possible to get above the top of the chain link fence from the water, invisible barriers prevent you from actually hopping over it, even when attempted from the cliffs far above the barrier.
 * Base

Houses Colonel Cassandra Moore's office, the break room, a theater/briefing room, several storage rooms (one containing the only two Chinese stealth armors in the game), and the Mainframe.
 * Offices

A small scrap building, it contains a Very-Hard locked terminal, and a few lockers with minor loot. It also houses a small sniper nest on the roof; accessible via a ladder.
 * Checkpoint

History
In 2274, a large contingent of New California Republic troops entered the Mojave Wasteland region and occupied Hoover Dam, which started the Republic's conflict with the Brotherhood of Steel.
 * Conflict with Brotherhood of Steel

Though Caesar's Legion had confronted the NCR before and had actually succeeded in destroying one of their major fortifications (Fort Aradesh), its forces (under Legate Graham) were devastated at Hoover Dam in 2277 and would take years to recover. Four years later, a new battle of Hoover Dam is about to commence, and this serves as the main setting for the New Vegas storyline and endings.
 * Conflict with Caesar's Legion

Notable Loot

 * Snowglobe - Hoover Dam on the welcome desk inside the Visitor Center


 * Two pieces of Chinese stealth armor are located in the Hoover Dam Offices, inside the room marked with a radiation sign.


 * Recon armor and helmet in the Hoover Dam Offices, located in the middle locker next to the exit door on the lower level (random).


 * Programmer's Digest in one of the science rooms, in the Hoover Dam Offices. When you've entered the offices, follow the tunnel. You can find the copy on the desk in the second room on your right.


 * Locksmith's Reader in Power Plant 01, it is on top of a desk next to the entrance to the Hoover Dam Offices. Be sure that you are hidden when you grab this.


 * Fixin' Things next to a toolbox in a corridor. (This has to be stolen)


 * .308 rounds on the lookout above the elevator.


 * Metal armor and ammo on the ground floor of Power Plant 03


 * Doctor's bag Can be found in the room with the shelves, down the stairs to right if you enter from the plant
 * Weapon repair kit can also be found in the room with the shelves (opposite doctors bag)

Bugs

 * Sometimes when you have ED-E with you, he may get attacked by the NCR and also sometimes the screen turns blue like you are using Cat-Eye. This goes away after some time just like Cat-Eye does. ED-E will not attack the ones attacking him (IF you have another companion they will not either). They stop attacking once he is either dead or KO'd, so leave him outside of the dam before you go near it.


 * If you bring Rex with you he may attack or get attacked randomly by NCR, they will not become hostile toward you, only Rex. Its recommended leaving him somewhere because he will attack important people and it could ruin a mission.


 * Some of the textures on top of the dam appear glitched


 * Upon completion of the game, on all faction quests (NCR, Legion, Mr. House or Yes Man) when travelling on the top of the dam, the console freezes. Possibly due to FPS or numerous events happening on top of the dam (ie. NPCs, mortars, rockets).


 * It is possible to get stuck forever if you open a door in a tower leading to the office.


 * Worn armor (any type) bought from quartermaster Bardon can end up in player's inventory in pristine condition upon leaving the shopping dialog, and priced accordingly.

Behind the scenes
On the side of one of the stone guard towers is a banner reading, "LEGION GO HOME". This is a reference to Monty Python's Life of Brian.

Appearances
The Hoover Dam appears in Fallout: New Vegas. It was to appear in a different version (a town built on top of the dam) in Van Buren, the cancelled Fallout 3 by Black Isle Studios.