East Coast The East Coast , also known as the Eastern Seaboard or Atlantic Seaboard , refers to the easternmost states of the pre - War United States . While in a strict geographical sense it includes the entire eastern seaboard , in popular usage the term " East Coast " is most often used to specifically refer to the northern half of this region , which is also known as the Northeastern U . S . Background . The east , much like the rest of post war America , is a lawless , inhospitable , and barren Wasteland . Most of it consists of barren badlands where only the strongest can scratch a living out of the irradiated wastes . The Great War did not spare the east in any way ; however , some areas did come out less destroyed than others thus able to create small communities , some able to thrive . Furthermore , life in the wasteland , no matter what place , can always break down the strongest of men . It ' s no secret that raider clans live out in the scorching wastes . These groups of people take what they can by force , sparing none in their paths . It ' s a sad fact that not many organizations are able to protect the many peaceful tribal s and small town s , however some do step up to protect the land such as Reilly ' s Rangers who are a fierce but good - natured mercenary group that acts out of D . C . Even the Regulators , who have pledged to rid the wastes of any and all evil , can be seen in some parts of the Wastelands . As life continues in the eastern wastes , however , a large faction of metal knights , known as the Brotherhood of Steel , try to make life a bit easier around the areas of Washington D . C . . Brotherhood of Steel . The Brotherhood of Steel in the Capital Wasteland is a splinter faction of the original Brotherhood of Steel . Its headquarters is the Citadel , built into and beneath the ruins of the Pentagon on the edge of what used to be Washington , D . C . . As of 2277 , it is led by Owyn Lyons and is one of the most important and influential factions in the Capital Wasteland . The organization acts mainly out of the DC area and have officially defied the original brotherhood ' s orders on the west coast , to protect all of the wasteland . As of 2287 , the Brotherhood of Steel , led by Arthur Maxson , has near total control over the entire Eastern Seaboard . Areas under Brotherhood control ( or at least with BoS presence ) include the Capital Wasteland , Washington , D . C , Adams Air Force Base , the Commonwealth and many more . The Brotherhood of Steel is the largest faction in the Eastern Seaboard . Atlantic coastal regions . Adams Air Force Base . Adams Air Force Base was a major United States Armed Forces military installation before the Great War . Located just outside the Capital Wasteland , the base is accessible through the Presidential metro , and in 2277 served as a secondary headquarters for the Enclave , supplementing their installation at Raven Rock . Enclave operations here were centered in the mobile base crawler , which had the capability to call down orbital strikes on several locations in the Capital Wasteland . Broken Banks . The Broken Banks was one of several regions Tobar piloted the " Duchess Gambit " to , along with the Commonwealth and the Capital Wasteland . Nothing is known about it , except that it is located south of the Capital Wasteland . Capital Wasteland . The Capital Wasteland is the area surrounding the former city of Washington , D . C . , including portions of the former District of Columbia , Maryland , and Virginia . As of 2277 , the area is overrun by super mutant s , raiders , mercenaries and numerous other dangers that threaten the small human and ghoul populations . The central hub of civilization in the former capital ' s ruins is Rivet City , a settlement housed in the remains of a beached aircraft carrier . Other settlements include the towns of Megaton , Canterbury Commons , Andale , Tenpenny Tower , Paradise Falls and the Brotherhood of Steel Citadel within the ruins of the Pentagon . Movement through the ruins of the downtown Washington , D . C . , area itself is facilitated by the remaining Metro tunnels . Commonwealth . The Commonwealth is the remains of the pre - War state of Massachusetts . Like most other major population centers of the United States , it was ravaged by the Great War , and is as lawless and inhospitable as the Capital Wasteland . Despite its anarchic nature , it is also home to the mysterious Institute , which has continued to develop advanced technology even after the massive amounts of destruction caused by the Great War . Among its accomplishments are artificial intelligence and android s , built as a servant class , with other models serving as trackers to return runaway androids . The Railroad , another organization within the Commonwealth , works against the Institute to free the enslaved androids . The Brotherhood of Steel also operate in the area , and own an armored airship named " the Prydwen " that patrols the skies of Boston . Crater Banks . Nothing is known about this area , other than the fact that it is on the coast . It is only mentioned once , in a single line of dialogue from Quinn . When asked " " Travel ? Where do you go ? " " he responds " " Oh , here and there and everywhere . I ' ve explored all up and down the coast , from the Commonwealth , to the Pitt , all the way down to Crater Banks . " " Far Harbor . Far Harbor is an island off the coast of Maine . The island has higher radiation levels than the Commonwealth , and is home to a secret colony of synths . The Church of the Children of Atom is also present on the island , and are in conflict with the synth colony and the local townspeople . Great Lanta . Great Lanta is the birthplace of Saint Monica , who is venerated by the Church of Saint Monica aboard Rivet City in the Capital Wasteland . The exact location of Great Lanta is unknown , as it is only mentioned once in a sermon by Father Clifford , where he describes it as " " on the shores of the ocean . " " Point Lookout . The region of Point Lookout , Maryland , just south of the Capital Wasteland , was home to a small seaside resort town established after the 1950s . Point Lookout was one of the few places in the United States not directly hit by nuclear bombs during the Great War , but lingering radiation in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay has had a significant impact on the area ' s wildlife and native population . The effects of the radiation were amplified by inbreeding which led to large amounts of deformities in the native populations . Inland regions . Erie Stretch . The Erie Stretch is a region located somewhere along the coast of Lake Erie , possibly even the city of Erie , Pennsylvania . It is only mentioned once , by the Pitt slave Brand , who asks " " You ' re new , aren ' t you ? Are you here from the Erie Stretch ? The Capital Wasteland ? Ronto ? Where ' s home ? " " Monroeville . Monroeville is an area east of the Pitt , known to have significant ghoul and trog populations . It is mentioned only once , by the Pitt slaver Everett . Philly . Philly is the name given to the ruins of the pre - War city of Philadelphia . It is mentioned on Abraham Washington ' s terminal where he states that the Liberty Bell is still intact and " " is laying in the ruins of Philly . " " He also mentions funding an expedition to retrieve it from " " that dump . " " The Abbey of the Road . The Abbey of the Road is a Christian monastery located far west of the Commonwealth , though its exact location is unknown . The church ' s main concern is the well - being of the other Christian churches along the East Coast . The Pitt . The Pitt is a raider settlement built from the decaying infrastructure of the city of Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . The settlement is divided into two main areas : Downtown , where slaves work and live , and Uptown , where the raiders live . Downtown includes quarters for the slave population , the Mill , and the abandoned Pitt steelyard which is inhabited by wildmen and trog s and contains remnants of pre - War manufacturing facilities . Uptown contains the abandoned apartments , an area of housing which has been left by the Pitt raiders and is inhabited by a fairly sized trog population , and the Haven building , which the personal palace for " the Pitt " s leader , Ishmael Ashur . A network of ramps and bridges connects the upper floors of " the Pitt " s dilapidated buildings in both parts of the settlement , serving as platforms for raiders to oversee the working slaves . Ronto . Little is known about Ronto , including its exact location . By 2277 , Ronto had established itself as a notable regional power with a reputation that extended as far as the Pitt .