San Francisco San Francisco is a city in Northern California . After the Great War , its population consists mostly of the Shi , who are the descendants of the crew of a Chinese submarine that crashed there , and of the members of a religious cult known as the Hubologists . Background . Even pre - War , San Francisco was considered a " weird " city . It was also evidently hit hard during the Great War , as much of the city is a husky and stained ruin . However , humanity has clung to life in and around the bay area . The PMV Valdez can be found there , an ancient oil tanker left sitting stationary at the docks for centuries . Tanker vagrants have since come to call it their home . Secretly however , the tanker itself has a dark past . Some say the mutated creatures within it , namely wanamingo s , floater s and centaurs were placed there by the Enclave in order to prevent any potential interloper from the tanker from being used to get to their oil rig headquarters . This is supported by the fact that essential components needed to make use of the ship have been relocated to Camp Navarro and Vault 13 . However , it later becomes apparent that these steps were not enough , as the Chosen One later collects the Valdez ' required components , and makes use of it in order to reach the Enclave ' s oil rig . Factions . For the most part , the city ' s population is made up of the Shi , descendants of a group of stranded Chinese submariners that beached nearby , likely in the bay itself . Over the years , the remnants of the submarine were salvaged to better serve the Shi . For example , the computer once installed in the submarine is now the Shi Emperor . The Hubologists , a cult focused on the pre - War " teachings " of Dick Hubbell also call the city home , and have secured a pre - War USS Quetzel , which they intend to repair and use to leave Earth , by launching it using the now - ruined Golden Gate Bridge as a launch platform . The shuttle itself was found at San Francisco International Airport , and was likely involved in a scrapped plan to transport Enclave personnel off - planet to escape the War . Location . San Francisco can be found six squares east and twenty - four squares south of Arroyo . Layout . Chinatown . ( Also called Shi - town ) is a location in San Francisco . Once a suburb of the great city , it has been adopted by the descendants of the Shi - huang - ti crew , who have lived in the red brick houses ever since . In 2241 , it ' s the heart of the city and a focal point for Shi internal struggles . Notable establishments in the district include Red 888 Guns weapons shop , Lao Chou ' s Flying Dragon 8 general store , Dr Fung ' s clinic and the gyms of Dragon and Lo Pan as well as passages to the Golden Gate , Shi - town Docks and the Steel Palace . Off the radar is a pre - War military station , currently controlled by the Brotherhood of Steel , manned by a single soldier - Matthew . Steel Palace . The Steel Palace is the main base of the Shi , Chinese inhabitants of San Francisco . It is a small , reinforced structure allegedly constructed out of metal salvaged from the Shi - huang - ti submarine they arrived in during the nuclear firestorm of 2077 . Inside , protected by heavily armed guards ( H & K G11 s and M72 Gauss rifle s are common ) , lies the Emperor mainframe ( also a relic from the submarine ) that records and analyzes the factions history , advising Ken Lee . In addition , biological , chemical and physical research labs are present in the complex , giving the Shi a substantial edge in the technological race in the wasteland . Shi Town Docks . The docks support a population of slags as well as Shi children . It is not a terribly healthy place to live , judging by the rust - brown color of the water surrounding the ancient and corroding PMV Valdez . Golden Gate . The Golden Gate is the place that the Hubologists call home . The location is divided into two smaller sections : the cracked bridge where their space shuttle is located , and a bunker that serves as their headquarters ; the latter being the most notable locale of the two . In the bunker , the player can find the most important people of the Hubologist sect , the AHS - 7 and AHS - 9 , as well as Vikki Goldman and Juan Cruz , two porn stars from New Reno who are in support of the Hubologist cause . Groups . San Francisco is populated mostly by the Shi and governed by the Emperor . The Emperor and his aides live in a steel palace on the east side of San Francisco . The palace contains vast and advanced scientific labs of various fields and the scientists working there are some of the best in the wasteland . Their main opposition are the Hubologists who have scientists of their own , yet have proven to be significantly behind the technological innovation of the Shi . The Shi have managed to keep many of their old traditions and customs alive , which is more than many American groups can say . They also run an extensive weapons trade , offering many technologies usually only available to the Brotherhood of Steel . Where they manage to get these items is unknown . There is also a population of vagrants , artists , disenchanted people from various cities , and ex - military personnel that have taken over an old oil tanker still floating in the harbor . They will usually trade expertise for goods , although they prefer to be left alone . The third major group , which does not trade , is a religious community called the Hubologists . They are obsessed with an old space shuttle they found parked at the airport and are attempting to make it fly again , so they can join their gods in the heavens above . The Brotherhood of Steel has a large outpost in San Francisco , although it is outwardly indiscernible from other Brotherhood outposts . Its distinguishing feature is an extensive basement stocked with Brotherhood technology and armaments . The Brotherhood maintains a low profile in San Francisco , though whether it is intentional or a byproduct of waning influence is not known . Relationships with other settlements . During 2241 , the New California Republic had no influence in San Francisco , and the Shi are quite happy to keep it that way . The Hubologists don ’ t concern themselves with such things . Little information exists on what has happened to San Francisco since the events of " Fallout 2 " . There are few foreigners in San Francisco and newcomers are easily noticed . Due to its location in between the military base , Navarro , and a desolate expanse of wasteland , it is logical to assume that few ( but well - armed ) caravans traverse these paths . Remnants of the Master ' s army , Enclave patrols , press gangs , Hubologists , and mutated animals plague the surrounding area making it inaccessible to weak or crudely armed travelers . Appearances . San Francisco appears only in " Fallout 2 " , and was to be mentioned in " Van Buren " . The city ' s Golden Gate Bridge appears in the " Atomic Command " game in " Fallout 4 " , and through Kellogg ' s memories , as the Golden Gate is seen out of the window . Bugs . Pressing 5 at the San Francisco map will bring the Chosen One to a location with a " UNUSED ART " room - shuttle interior . Attempting to examine certain things will allow the player character only to see a shuttle wall . There is no way to exit out of this area other than using an earlier save .