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All good suggestions so far. I'll second the link from Steve W. on the Pennsylvanial Train Museum! It's a gem! If you have time to detour off I-80 in Western Pennsylvania, just outside Titusville is the site of the first oil well drilled by Drake. There's a rather extensive park with old gas engines running all day. >Link Just south of I-80 about 25 miles after you enter Pennsylvania is Grove City. It features the Wendell August Forge, which my wife dragged me to, but I found rather interesting. They hand-make (HAMMER!) commemorative plates and other such items. While she shops, you can tour the factory area.
Link Northwestern Ohio features Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, and for the history buffs, the President Hayes Museum is very close to Freemont. Here in Indiana, you can stop at the Auburn museum, which is about half-way from I-80 down to Fort Wayne. It really is a great spot. If you have the time/inclination for a picnic, Pokagon State Park is just north of Angola, in the northeastern corner of our state. West of Angola, along US 20, you'll find a considerable Amish community western Lagrange County, and a huge flea-market/antique-store area at Shipshewanna. In the northwestern part of the stare, Indiana Dunes State Park near Chesterton is a dandy. The Moline/Rock Island area of Illinois has some neat historical spots along the river. In Iowa, just east of Iowa City, is the Herbert Hoover Presidential site. My wife dragged me to that one (she's a VERY distant relative) and it far surpassed my expectations. It is truly impressive. Southwest of Des Moines just a little bit is Madison County, and yes, there really are covered bridges there. And for something realy off-beat, my vote goes to Riverside, Iowa, just south of Iowa City about 15 miles or so. It bills itself as the FUTURE birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk of Startrek fame!>Link And>Link for anyone planning to visit your state of Nebraska, I'd like to mention that there are lots of really neat places to see, including the Sod House Museum at Gothenburg, and the many attractions of the Scott's Bluff area. We generally find a week or two every summer to go out and explore mid-America, and as interstate travel goes, I-80 is one of my favorite routes.
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