The Commonwealth

This page is about a place mentioned in Fallout 3. For the 13 pre-War U.S. commonwealths, see United States.
For European organization of states, see European Commonwealth.

Mentioned-only unmarked location
The Commonwealth
Overview
Factions	Synth Retention Bureau The Institute Railroad
Layout
Part of	Massachusetts

 

“The Commonwealth itself is nothing but a war-ravaged quagmire of violence and despair. Inside the sealed environment of the Institute, however... The Institute's affairs are none of your concern. Your undeveloped mind couldn't even begin to comprehend what we've accomplished.”— Dr. Zimmer

The Commonwealth is what is left of the pre-War American state of Massachusetts in New England. While traditionally called a commonwealth in itself, before the Great War, Massachusetts was also part of the New England Commonwealth of the United States in the alternate history of the Fallout universe. Most of it is a war-ravaged quagmire of violence and despair like much of the rest of the former United States, but it is also where the mysterious Institute is located.

Organizations

Little is known about the Institute other than that the scientists working in the sealed environment possess highly advanced technology and technological skills. The Institute has created true artificial intelligence (A.I.) and is capable of manufacturing androids, also referred to as "synths" - short for "synthetic humans".

Another organization active against the Commonwealth, the Railroad, functions in direct opposition to the Institute. Named in honor of the Underground Railroad, the Railroad's mission is the rescue and salvation of synthetic humanoids primarily, though enslavement as a whole is also fought against.

There is a special branch of the Commonwealth police called the Synth Retention Bureau. It is tasked with recovering synths that attempt to escape from the Institute.

Notes

• Harkness, Dr. Zimmer and Armitage are from the Commonwealth.
• During the events of Broken Steel, Dr. Li leaves the Capital Wasteland on a trip to the Commonwealth, apparently to clear her head after the final activation of Project Purity.
• Tobar, captain of the Duchess Gambit, made frequent trips to the Commonwealth when his ferry was in better condition.
• Ishmael Ashur, ruler of The Pitt, mentions The Commonwealth, stating that it has reason to envy the Pitt.
• Marcella mentions the Commonwealth on her terminal in Point Lookout.

File:Screen Shot 2015-06-03 at 10.42.50 AM.png

The statue of Paul Revere standing in front of the old north church in Boston Massashusetts.

Appearances

The Commonwealth is only mentioned in Fallout 3 and its add-ons The Pitt, Broken Steel, and Point Lookout.

Likely shown in the Fallout 4 trailer, at 1:56 is a statue of the Paul Revere Monument located in Boston Massachusetts. At 2:03 the golden domed building shown is also likely to be the Massachusetts State House.

Gallery

Screen Shot 2015-06-03 at 10.42.04 AM.png

A ship sitting on a destroyed bank in Boston Massachusetts

State House.png

The Massachusetts State House in Boston.