Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia, also known as just D.C. or Washington, was a district and the pre-War capital city of the United States. After the War, the city's radioactive ruins and surrounding areas came to be known as the Capital Wasteland.

Background
Located on the eastern shore of the Potomac, Washington, D.C. was the capital city of the United States and the seat of the nation's government.

The Mall
The Mall is the location between the Museum of Technology, Museum of History, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Capitol Building. The Capitol Building and Lincoln Memorial are on the far ends, the Washington Monument near the center, and the Museums are on the sides. When going straight down the middle of the Mall, expect to be attacked by dozens of super mutants, and by the Capitol Building expect more super mutants, Talon Company mercs, and an Enclave camp if one is far enough into the game.

Washington Monument
The obelisk that is the Washington Monument now has a wall made of concrete surrounding it and is occupied by the Brotherhood of Steel. The monument's sandstone and marble have fallen off at many places and reveal its internal metal structure. The bronze statue of George Washington has disappeared from the lobby, nowhere to be found. It also houses the Galaxy News Radio dish at the building's top.

The Capitol Building
Before the Great War, the United States Capitol Building housed the legislative branch of the government of the United States. It is located in Washington, D.C., on top of Capitol Hill at the east end of the Mall. The other side of the Capitol opens onto Seward Square. When discovered by the Lone Wanderer, it is a battle site between super mutants, Talon Company, and later, the Enclave.

Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial stands in ruins at the heart of D.C.; the seated statue of Lincoln is missing its head (it is located in the Temple of the Union). Sandbags are scattered around the memorial, which is used as cover by slavers and possibly runaway slaves if a quest is completed. The head may be restored after completing a quest given by Hannibal Hamlin who leads a small unit of escaped slaves that are trying to create a haven for other runaway slaves.

National Archives
The National Archives is a pre-War building that housed an agency that was charged with preserving and documenting government and historical records. The building is relatively undamaged, but the documents and records have mostly been destroyed or ruined. It has also become home to super mutants, centaurs, and robots; one of which has a personality. The super mutants have placed many traps around to keep out unwanted visitors.

Museum of History
The Museum of History seems to have largely escaped most pillaging other than the structural damage of general decay and trash can fires. Old posters for the space exhibit at the Museum of Technology still hang. A woolly mammoth statue sits in the center untouched by time or the Great War. Due to the decaying ruins, three of the four exhibits entryways are blocked, including WWII, the Anchorage Reclamation and the Resource Wars, leaving only the Abraham Lincoln exhibit fully intact. Further, inside the museum, the player character can find the Underworld museum exhibit, which has been converted into a city of non-feral ghouls. However, if the player explores any other parts of the Museum, they will find Lincoln's artifacts, such as the Lincoln Memorial poster, Lincoln's repeater and dozens of feral ghouls.

Museum of Technology
A dilapidated shell of its former glory, the Museum of Technology lies in ruin. The Wright brothers' Flier has fallen, its wings are broken, and a faded old Vault-Tec banner hangs nearby. A monument to man's pride and achievement, set amid the result that is currently occupied by super mutants. The Virgo II Lander remains, containing the needed communications relay dish, several Stealth Boys, and plaques about several artifacts. There is also an exhibit featuring a Vault-Tec vault, labeled Vault 106.

Citadel
The Pentagon, as feared, was largely destroyed. However, its sub-levels remained intact and contained enough pre-War technology and weaponry to keep Brotherhood of Steel forces going indefinitely. But there was something else as well, Liberty Prime - a technological marvel that, if restored, could help the Brotherhood rebuild strength and reputation that had been declining steadily for years.

Jefferson Memorial
The Jefferson Memorial was converted to a water filtering facility with very large water pipes obstructing the main entrance. A smaller side entrance to the gift shop is open toward the west. This is used as a base for Project Purity, which seeks to provide clean water to the entire Capital Wasteland. It is the focal point of many of the main quests, particularly Take it Back!.

White House
The White House is also a location on the map, though it is nothing more than a massive irradiated crater at this point. It appears to have been hit directly by a nuclear bomb. A Fat Man and three mini-nukes are located in it, and there are several level-dependent ghouls that inhabit the crater.

Arlington Cemetery
Arlington Cemetery is most of what remains of the Arlington district, including Arlington National Cemetery. To the south is Mama Dolce's food industry and in the center, there is the Arlington House. Before the bombs fell, many of the country's war heroes were buried beneath this soil. Now, it is an empty spot on the map, mostly devoid of life. The Arlington Wasteland Metro located south of Wilhelm's Wharf, opens to Arlington Cemetery.

Anchorage War Memorial
The Anchorage War Memorial is a war memorial commemorating the battle of Anchorage, Alaska.

Districts

 * Note: Unmarked locations are denoted in italics.

Metro system
An extensive transit network, providing service to Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas. Complemented by an above-ground network of City Liner buses, the network of stations and rail lines were advertised as a faster, more convenient, cleaner commuter option.

After the war, the metro network tunnels provide the means for traveling between the districts of D.C. and its neighboring communities even if above ground routes are unavailable. The stations also serve to shelter both raiders and wastelanders alike, alongside dangers such as super mutants, feral ghouls, and pre-War protectrons that still actively patrol, attacking anyone that does not have a valid metro ticket.

Appearances
Washington, D.C. appears in Fallout 3, and is mentioned in Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, its add-ons Automatron, Far Harbor, and Nuka-World, and Fallout 76.

Behind the scenes

 * Washington, D.C. is based on the real world location of the same name, bearing many similar locations and landmarks.
 * The city was planned for mention in the canceled Van Buren.