There are so many cool and interesting locations in Fallout 4, but one place often goes without attention. The very first place the Sole Survivor is in, Sanctuary Hills, is actually one of the most detailed places in the entire game. Pre-war and post-war, it served as a place where the player begins their journey and where they can build a settlement of the future.
It’s also the main area where the Minutemen will operate from, with Sturges the handyman present in Sanctuary, along with Mama Murphy. Closest to Vault 111, it’s the iconic starting place for Fallout 4’s story that has a surprising amount of history behind it, and many little secrets that most players won’t notice at first sight.
10 Two Sanctuary Hills
The Sanctuary Hills seen in the introduction of the game is very different from the one that’s discovered when the Sole Survivor makes their way back home. Many of its tinier details are different, such as the sign outside of the neighborhood which only exists in the post-war version, and the names on the mailboxes.
This is because there are actually two different Sanctuary Hills areas, which is confirmed by the game files. The player is transported the actual game map after they exit Vault 111.
9 Leaving Sanctuary Hills
It’s a regular day, nothing special going on other than a Vault-Tec representative showing up at the Sole Survivor’s door. And then suddenly the news change, and an alarm begins to blare in Sanctuary Hills. Danger is imminent, and the Sole Survivor needs to evacuate.
What if the player simply decides to walk out of Sanctuary Hills instead of going to Vault 111? They’ll meet an unfortunate end at the hands of a large nuclear explosion which will kill them instantly.
8 600-Year-Old Bridge
There’s one main way out of Sanctuary Hills, and it’s the bridge located in its southern end. This rickety wooden bridge might not look like much, but it actually connects the neighborhood to the mainland.
Moreover, according to Preston Garvey this bridge is historically quite significant. It was already there during the American Revolutionary War, which would imply that the bridge has been around for well over 600 years.
7 Old Inhabitants
The first thing that might come into the mind of any Sole Survivor is what happened to their dear, beloved neighbors. Sadly, many of them perished during the nuclear explosion, and those who did make it to Vault 111 died as their cryostasis pods failed.
In fact, many of the ghouls lurking in the wilds will sometimes have strikingly familiar clothes or names to the people that once populated Sanctuary Hills. It’s a tragic reminder or what happened to them.
6 The Root Cellar
Sanctuary Hills might not look like much at first glance, especially after nuclear radiation ravaged through it. However, there’s quite a few cool details to be found in the many abandoned houses that now litter the sides of the overgrown streets.
One spot that’s particularly interesting is the root cellar, which was once built by Jahani. There’s some nice loot to be found here, and can be found behind one of the houses, accessed by a set of metallic shutters.
5 Island On A Lake
Those with sharp eyes may have noticed that Sanctuary Hills isn’t just a regular old neighborhood sat in the extreme northern parts of the Commonwealth. It’s actually located on a small island in the middle of a lake known as Misty Lake.
The lake itself, as one would expect, is riddled with radiation, but can be crossed in some parts that only have a narrow canal separating the island from mainland itself.
4 Sole Survivor’s House
One of the most iconic locations in Fallout 4 is undoubtedly the Sole Suvivor’s house in Sanctuary Hills. While it definitely becomes very rundown after the war, its appearance in the pre-war era and its name, the House of Tomorrow, is actually a cool reference.
During the 20th century, the Houses of Tomorrow were real exhibits of imagined houses of the future. They would often showcase new or upcoming technology. Not only is it a fitting historical reference, but it’s also somewhat ironic.
3 Inspired By Real Houses
The House of Tomorrow aside, many of the houses in Sanctuary Hills have a very particular style that’s based on a real life building style from the early 1950s and late 1940s. This style is known as the Lustron style housing.
The style was named after the company itself that built these houses, which were specifically made for people returning from the war in a time when there was a shortage of available places to stay.
2 Based In Minute Man Historical Park
Like much of the Commonwealth, Sanctuary Hills is also located in a real area which can be found in real life. Located in Concord, the spot where the neighborhood is perched is actually the place for a famous historical location.
The Minute Man Historical Park is in that exact spot, which is essentially a park that seeks to remember the start of the American Revolutionary War. It’s therefore very fitting that Preston Garvey chooses to return to this location within the game.
1 The Music Of Sanctuary Hills
Music in the Fallout franchise has become absolutely iconic over the years, as has its in-game introduction with its iconic “war” quote. As such, there’s tons of cross-references between the game, and Fallout 4 isn’t any different in that regard.
When entering Sanctuary Hills for the first time, the player will hear a familiar acoustic song from the very same band that made iconic songs for Fallout and Fallout 3.
NEXT: Fallout 4: 10 Tips For Exploring The Glowing Sea
