Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is a large, pre-War obelisk at the center of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Background
The Washington Monument is a United States presidential memorial completed on December 6, 1884, commemorating the first president of the United States, George Washington.

The battered remains of the monument are still standing, towering above the ruins of the old capital city and the battle-torn Mall. The Washington Monument can be seen from nearly anywhere in the Capital Wasteland; at 555 feet tall, it is the tallest structure in the D.C. area.

The Washington Monument has been claimed as an outpost by the Brotherhood of Steel, as it contains the signal transmitter for Galaxy News Radio. Although the Brotherhood members are leveled characters, they may be killed by the more numerous super mutants.

Layout
The entrance of the monument contains two caved-in doors and an elevator. Only the elevator is accessible, which prompts a loading screen when activated. At the top, there are some machines, which are used to relay the Galaxy News Radio signal.

Outside the barricade to the northwest, one well-armed paladin guards a checkpoint containing a stockpile of several Brotherhood-owned ammunition boxes and health items. Just beyond the checkpoint to the west, the north side of the Reflecting Pool has been mined. At least eight frag mines have been laid down to protect that approach. The defenses are not without cause, as up to five vicious dogs frequent the area and often skirmish with the paladin, sometimes setting off the mines as they advance.

To the southwest, another well-armed paladin will usually be found patrolling the perimeter outside the walls.

Related quests

 * Galaxy News Radio

Appearances
The Washington Monument appears only in Fallout 3, and is mentioned in Fallout 4 by Robert MacCready. It also appears in the Atomic Command Pip-Boy game in Fallout 4.

Behind the scenes
The Washington Monument, an entirely masonry-comprised structure, is based on the real world obelisk of the same name in Washington, D.C.

Bugs

 * Sometimes, fast-traveling from the top of the monument will cause the elevator to stay on the top floor. Upon reentering the monument, you are in a room with blacked-out hallways and only the elevator is accessible. Entering it causes you to go down to the bottom floor and then have to go all the way up again.
 * If discovered before the "Galaxy News Radio" quest, Brotherhood of Steel Paladins patrolling the area will be hostile to the player.
 * The button panel inside the elevator does not shake with the elevator as it "travels". This is because it is not parented.
 * If Galaxy News Radio is played while installing the Virgo II dish, Three Dog will sometimes mention that Project Purity has already been completed, and that it has been two weeks since it started decontaminating water.