 Favorable notice there propelled him to the directorship in January 1975.As director he oversaw a great increase in park development and interpretive programming for the Bicentennial of the American Revolution.The return of an NPS careerist to the job was much applauded by park employees and supporters, but Everhardt's leadership fell short of expectations, and the new Carter administration returned him to the field as Blue Ridge Parkway's superintendent in May 1977.