Bakelite, the 20th century’s first plastic, was invented in 1907, 60 years before “The Graduate” suggested the industry was on the cutting edge. “Bakelite in Yonkers: Pioneering the Age of Plastics,” an exhibition that opens on Saturday at the Hudson River Museum, showcases 300 objects from the 1910s to the early 21st century that exploit the unique properties of Phenol-formaldehyde: brilliant color, heat resistance and strength. Bakelite is still used today in car parts, plywood and pan handles (Revere Ware, for example), but the earliest pieces in the exhibition show its decorative side.
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