Radio station and the Washington Monument
I'll say right away that the forum threads are full of angry posts asking, "How do I get there?" It's really hard to do if you don't know where to go. The map doesn't indicate the route, and the radio station itself is simply marked with an icon, without any visible markings or directions. Therefore, below is a map showing the required metro station, which will take us deeper into the Capital Wasteland. It's called Chevy Chase.
We also recommend completing the side quests in Megaton and leveling up well before heading to the radio station, as you won't be messed around in the Capital Wasteland.
So, let's get to Chevy Chase, kill the raiders there, and search their camp. You can get a good supply of both weapons and bottle caps there. We descend into the metro and proceed underground to the next station; nothing scary is expected there. Climbing up, we encounter fighters from the Brotherhood of Steel fighting super mutants. We help them, after which we agree to accompany them to the radio station we need, which, incidentally, they are guarding. We move forward, helping the Brotherhood deal with the mutants along the way.
Having reached the radio station, we're in no hurry to relax. We immediately run across the square in front of the building, grabbing a Fat Man grenade launcher from a dead soldier along the way. We take a good position and wait. Soon, a roar will be heard, the ground will shake, and a huge mutant, Behemoth, will run out into the square, scattering cars. We carefully aim and fire several rounds from the Fat Man. Behemoth falls dead, we search it and enter the radio station. We go up to the second floor and go straight to Three Dog, the host. We speak with him.
It turns out our father visited him not long ago, but we won't learn anything more for nothing. Three Dog sends us to fix the antenna on the Washington Monument, which was destroyed by dastardly super mutants. First, we need to go to the Technical Museum and retrieve the dish from the lunar rover located there. Well, and then climb the monument itself and secure it.
Washington Monument
First, stock up on stimpacks and ammo. We exit the radio station building, but this time through the back entrance, not the front. We find ourselves on a hill, descend from it, and find a metro station. We go inside. Long tunnels and many, many raiders await us. Our final destination is the Museum Station. In one of the rooms, a squad of raiders is hiding behind radio-controlled turrets. If we have high science skill (> 50), we can reprogram them and watch as the enemies perish from their own weapons. If not, it's best not to engage in open battle. We lure the enemies away and kill them, and then we go and deal with the pesky turrets.
Finally, having reached the station we need, we exit to the surface. There are super mutants in this location like flies, and since the museum is next to a metro station, it's up to you to decide whether to fight them or just run to the right door.
We enter the Technical Museum and immediately encounter two freaks. We deal with them and head up to the second floor. To reach the west wing, we'll have to visit some eerily familiar places. The museum displays a model of a shelter where people would hide in the event of a nuclear war. Sound familiar? We walk through and admire it. After the tour, we enter the door leading to the west wing. Turn left and enter the room with the rocket.
We descend the stairs, eliminating the mutants. Entering the room with the satellite, we remove the dish from it and kill the enemies. One is hiding on the upper tier, and the other is in the passageway to the left. We return through the planetarium. Once outside, we begin to sneak our way toward the Washington Monument. Again, see for yourself: if you feel you can defeat the super mutants in the open, then engage them in battle—it's more interesting. If not, just run past, ignoring the gunfire behind you. Brotherhood of Steel soldiers will be stationed near the monument, covering your rear.
We pass through the gate and climb to the very top. Having admired the view of the ruined Washington, we set up the satellite dish and rejoice. Now the Galaxy News is broadcasting at full volume again. We return to Three Dog and ask about our father. We learn that our father went to River City to see Dr. Lee, so that means we'll go there too.
Source: SSoHPKC
See also:
Tranquility Lane (Vault 112)
Fallout 3: Jefferson Memorial
Fallout 3: Brotherhood of Steel Citadel