A traveling exhibit displaying a historical document in American history will be on display in Syracuse tomorrow. An exhibit of Abraham Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation will be part of a free exhibit at the OnCenter. YNN's Brad Vivacqua has the story.

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- This exhibit is called "The First Step to Freedom," and is making its way across New York State with stops in eight cities across the state. It will visit the OnCenter on Thursday.

The exhibit includes the only surviving version of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in Abraham Lincoln's handwriting.

The New York State Museum put the exhibit together to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's preliminary document released in September of 1862. The official Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves was issued in January of 1863 but was destroyed in a fire in Chicago a few years later.

In addition, the original manuscript of Doctor Martin Luther King Junior's speech delivered in 1962 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the document will also be displayed.

The works are important markers of American history which hold significance in the path for freedom.

"This document lives in the archives of the New York State Library. It's brought out only occasionally. I think the last time was perhaps fifty years ago so this is really a once in a lifetime opportunity to see one of the most amazing incredibly historically important documents in the history of our country," said Gregg Tripoli, Onondaga Historical Assoc. Executive Director.

Tripoli says the exhibit is expected to draw a large number of children as a number of schools take field trips to see the display.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday with local officials and the display will be free and open to the public all day and night.

You can check it out at the OnCenter on State Street from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at no cost.