You've finally reached Rivet City, that massive aircraft carrier turned wasteland hub. But now you're stuck. Whether you’re trying to wrap up the Wasteland Survival Guide for Moira Brown or you’re deep into the mystery of The Replicated Man, one name keeps coming up: Horace Pinkerton. The problem? He isn't in the market. He isn't in the church. Honestly, he isn't even in the main part of the ship.
If you're asking where is Pinkerton Fallout 3, you basically need to stop looking for a door and start looking for a shipwreck. He lives in the "Broken Bow"—the front section of the aircraft carrier that snapped off and is now leaning precariously in the Potomac. Getting to him is a rite of passage for every Fallout player, mostly because it involves radiation, mirelurks, and the very real possibility of drowning.
Finding the Broken Bow Entrance
There are two main ways to reach Pinkerton. One is remarkably easy if you have the right skills, and the other is a soggy nightmare that most players end up taking because they haven't maxed out their lockpicking.
The Underwater Tunnel (The Most Common Way)
Most players don't have a 100 Lockpick skill when they first need to find Pinkerton. This means you’re going for a swim.
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Start at the main entrance to Rivet City (the bridge where the beggar sits). Instead of going inside, head down to the water level on the right side of the ship. You’ll see the massive gap where the bow was severed. Swim into that gap.
Look for a door submerged beneath the surface on the side of the broken-off section. It's a bit disorienting. You'll want to pop some Rad-X before you jump in because the water is nasty. Once you click the door, you’re inside, but you aren't safe. You have to swim through a flooded corridor and surface quickly in an air pocket.
The Very Hard Locked Door
If you happen to be a master thief with a 100 Lockpick skill, you can skip the swimming. On the exterior of the broken bow, there's a walkway leading to a door. It's labeled as "Very Hard." If you can crack it, you walk right into the upper levels of the bow. Most people just use this as their exit later, since you can unlock it from the inside using a switch.
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Surviving Pinkerton's Personal Fortress
Finding the door is only half the battle. Pinkerton is a paranoid guy, and he’s lived alone for years for a reason. The interior of the Broken Bow is a death trap if you’re clumsy.
- Mirelurks everywhere: The lower, flooded sections are crawling with them. If you’re at a low level, these things will ruin your day. Bring a combat shotgun or something with high DPS.
- The Gas Leaks: Notice the air looking "wavy" in some rooms? That’s flammable gas. If you fire a laser rifle or throw a grenade, the whole room turns into an oven. Use melee or suppressed weapons if you can, or just be ready to tank the blast.
- Tripwires and Pressure Plates: Pinkerton has rigged his "home" with shotgun traps and mines. Keep your eyes on the floor.
Once you navigate the maze of rusted metal and avoid getting blown sky-high, you’ll find a set of stairs leading to his lab. It’s surprisingly high-tech compared to the rest of the ship.
Why Do You Actually Need Pinkerton?
You aren't just visiting this grumpy old man for the view. He’s the key to two major questlines.
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The Replicated Man
This is the big one. Dr. Zimmer from the Commonwealth (yes, that Commonwealth) is looking for a runaway android. Pinkerton is the guy who performed the facial reconstruction and memory wipe on that android. Without him, you can't get the proof you need to confront Harkness or turn him in to Zimmer. He also has a terminal in his lab that contains the "Internal Command Code" needed to restore the android's memories.
The Wasteland Survival Guide
Moira Brown wants to know the history of Rivet City. If you talk to the people in the main ship, they’ll give you a sanitized, boring version of the story. If you want the real history—and the bonus reward from Moira—you need Pinkerton. He’ll tell you how he was actually one of the founders of the city before he was pushed out by the current council.
A Few Expert Tips for the Trip
Honestly, the hardest part of finding Pinkerton isn't the map marker; it's the oxygen meter. When you're in the underwater section, there are two doors you have to open while submerged. If you get stuck on the geometry of the ship, you will drown.
- Save before you dive. I cannot stress this enough.
- Look for the switch. Once you talk to Pinkerton, look for the electrical switch near the "Very Hard" door. Flip it. This unlocks the door permanently so you never have to do that underwater swim again.
- Check his terminal. Even if you aren't on the Replicated Man quest yet, hacking his terminal (or getting the password from him) gives you some of the best lore in the game regarding how the ship was founded.
Pinkerton is one of those classic Fallout characters: a brilliant, bitter scientist who just wants to be left alone in a floating pile of junk. Getting to him is a pain, but the rewards—like the A3-21's Plasma Rifle you can get later from Harkness—are absolutely worth the trek through the radiation.
To make the most of your visit, ensure you have at least three clues for "The Replicated Man" before arriving. This allows you to bypass several dialogue checks and get straight to the truth about the android's identity. Once you've unlocked the shortcut door, you can easily use Pinkerton's lab as a safe, albeit lonely, place to trade or rest if you’re playing on a higher difficulty.